Monks and a number of organizations behind the Buddhist nationalist movement known as “969” will hold a meeting after a Buddhist council issued a directive banning the formation of 969-based monks’ networks and prohibiting use of the movement’s emblem as a symbol for Buddhism.
The State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee (SSMNC), a government-appointed body of high-ranking monks that oversees and regulates the Buddhist clergy in Burma, issued the directive on the grounds that the 969 movement’s tenets were not accordance with the rules and regulations set by the SSMNC. The order, dated Aug. 14, states that it is illegal to form monk networks organized around the principles of the 969 movement, and bars linking the 969 emblem to the Buddhist religion…
Celebrated graphic and street artist Pharuephon “Tum” Mukdasanit, 34, better known as “Mamafaka” died this morning after a surfing accident at Kata Beach on Saturday.
PHUKET – September 8,2013; Mr Tum was rescued by beach lifeguards after getting into difficulty, and was taken unconscious to Patong Hospital, and then transferred to Bangkok Hospital Phuket.
As doctors tried to bring him round, messages of condolence poured onto his Facebook fan page, which has 30,000 “likes” by admirers. Video clips were posted by well known singers Pongsit “Pu” Kamphee and Toon Bodyslam.
Pharuephon “Tum” Mukdasanit, 34, better known as “Mamafaka”
According to the Facebook page, Mr Tum graduated from Rangsit University in 2004 and was immediately hired by international advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather, the start of a career littered with awards for his advertising work.
His art started to appear in large circulation Thai and international design magazines such as Wallpaper, Territory and CG+ and he became involved in a wide variety of artistic events and projects including Tiger Beer’s Tiger Translate art events, the Bangkok Design Festival and the motorbike-related Ride a Life art project.
Most of his fans know him, however, as “Mamafaka B.O.R.E.D”, convener of the country’s most celebrated crew of graphic artists, which he founded in 2002 while still at university.
In 2011 Mr Tum went freelance. He was in huge demand, working on advertising campaigns for brands such as Converse, K-Swiss, Billabong, Preduce Skateboards, M150, Isuzu, Smirnoff and Yamaha.
He still found time to work on his own projects, including street art. Even people who do not know his named would probably recognise his cartoon creation, Mr Hellyeah, who has one large eye and a body covered in mustache hair, and who spawned a whole clan of similar characters which appeared everywhere from the walls of derelict buildings to Champagne bottles. Mr Hellyeah was even turned into a monster toy.
Mr Tum’s funeral will be held in Khon Kaen, in Thailand’s northeast.
Ye Htut, deputy minister for information, spokesperson of President Thein Sein, made no definite reply to the rumour that the President was forming a new political party based on religion and nationalism.
The rumour that the President was in preparation of forming the political party based on the religion and nationalism widely spread among the political analysts on September 9. When the Daily Eleven tried to contact Ye Htut, spokesperson of the President Office and deputy minister of information, an official of the President Office turned down the rumour spreading among the political analysts, saying it is not true.
Ye Htut replied through e-mail that the President was placing special emphasis on improving socio-economic life of the people, restoring genuine peace with ethnic armed groups and creating better future for the youths.
The Daily Eleven tried to contact Ye Htut through e-mail at 3.39 pm on September 9, but the spokesperson made indefinite reply at about 11 am on September 10.
“We cannot definitely say it is wrong news that the President will form a political party. It is also possible that the news has come out as a political game. But the news does not seem to be completely deniable. If [the President] will actually form a party, it is not possible during this year. It can be only next year. However, it is impossible that nationalism and religion are directly based on,” said Dr Yan Myo Thein, the distinguished author in Myanmar politics.
“I think the news is impossible. But, it can be seen the complications appearing in their inner circle. There are four units [in the circle]. At the army, [the head] is Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. At the government is President Thein Sein. At the parliament is Thura Shwe Mann. And at the [ruling] Union Solidarity and Development Party is Htay Oo. When there are these four units, it is possible the news has come out. For me, I think the news is impossible,” said Hla Shwe, the leader of the Students’ Union in 1962.
The widespread rumour that President Thein Sein is forming a political party based on nationalism and religion is false, an official from the President’s Office said today.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official dismissed the rumor, which spread among political analysts yesterday, by saying it is groundless.
DHAKA, Bangladesh, September 9 (UNHCR) – As a journalist, Kyaw Zin Moe makes the news every day. But now he is in the spotlight for a different reason: Kyaw, his wife and baby have become the first Myanmar refugee family to be assisted home by UNHCR in Bangladesh.
Encouraged by positive developments in Myanmar in recent years, some refugee families have already returned on their own from neighbouring Bangladesh. Kyaw is the first to request UNHCR support for his journey. He is clearly excited about what is going on in his home country.
“Myanmar is establishing democracy,” said the ethnic Rakhine refugee, aged 34. “Things will not change overnight. We shall all go back to make the changes happen.”
On Friday, his family left Dhaka, flew to Bangkok and on to the Myanmar capital, Yangon, from where they took a bus back to their village in Myan Aung, west of Yangon. The return marks the end of a long journey for them.
10 September 2013
Joint Shan State Army (SSA) patrol ran into Burma Army’s Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 501 patrol yesterday evening. The Shans retired. The Burma Army formed a joint search-and-destroy column made up of elements from LIB 501 and LIB 505. It resulted in another clash this morning. 5 dead on the Burma Army side, according to Army run militia sources. The clashes took place 20 miles north of Hsipaw.(SHAN)
A Kachin military volunteer tortured and beaten to death
Tuesday, Sept 10, 2013 by KLN
Local residents found the body of Brang Shawng, a Kachin people militia volunteer from Yingseng village who served under KIA’s 36th Battalion in northern Shan State, near Loi Dang village on Sept 6.
He was captured by Burmese army troops during a battle that took place at Loi Dang on Sept 3 from 1 pm to 2 pm between the two sides. KIA sources say wounded Brang Shawng was tortured and beaten to death by Burmese troops.
democracy for burma 
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