In Little Burma – Engaged Buddhist armed fighter now supporter and employer

Mae Sot, Little Burma in Thailand, May 2011 – Myat Thu usually does not spend too much time in the Aiya cafè, so I was happy to meet him there ‘by chance’, even before any trial to contact him… Though he surely had his plans what to do, he stayed practically as long as I listened to and put questions, in an interesting conversation.

Myat Thu is in his middle age, with Burmese and Shan ethnic roots, borned in the delta of Irrawaddy. Studied physics, however could not finished. The revolutionary year 1988 he spent in his homeland, in the delta. At that time he decided to join the army of the ABFSU (All Burma Federation of Student Unions), though he had been a Buddhist. He says under this army he fought with Mara, the tempter. He confesses there was a kind of hatred and he killed some people within army fights, but not under any other occasion.

Today, he is still engaged however his focus has shifted.

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Ven. Ashin Gambira in Darkness.

Leading monk of Saffron revolution in crucial physical and psychological state, suffering of fits as a consequence of his torture. Venerable Ashin Gambira was unjustly disrobed and imprisoned in Nov’07, later sentenced to 63 years (after update). He has actively continued the struggle even in prison up to now. His core human rights as a prisoner are denied. Medical treatment is denied, except (probably sedative) injections.

There is an action “light a candle” to rise up awareness about his case and all the others unjustly imprisoned in Myanmar. It includes sending letters to those responsible. The call is the unjustly imprisoned to be immediately released, their human rights to be accepted and followed. Urgently just now, venerable Ashin Gambira has to be provided with medical care in hospital, up to now denied.

In Little Burma – The Resisting in Uncertainty

Mae Sot, Little Burma in Thailand, May 2011 – Mostly about political ex-prisoners and people escaped from Myanmar with no sufficient identity in Thailand. Since 2006 up to now, due to Thai policy decisions, without any legal possibility to attain legacy of stay. Living in Mae Sot and in May 2011 facing uncertain process of registration or screening, with unclear aims or guarantees. Forced by situation to move into refugee camps, despite potential dangers for them there.

„We need to follow the right way, though there are obstacles, danger or discomfort. To keep our self-confidence, our inner values.“
Thiha Yarzar

From the whole bulk of available information and documents, the apparent is: they experienced real life-threatening not only situations, but long years. Dishuman treatment, unimaginable torture, denying them even base human needs and rights. Touching “soul”. Cognition under the conditions like these, facing deepest fears. Yet, their dignity, selfconfidence and courage, as well as reasoning or intellect, are sustaining, vivid and inspiring when meeting them. One can just bow down and marvel, facing such potential.

They have starved for human rights and democracy in Burma. They have “enjoyed” attention of the Burmese millitary intelligence; have faced stable chance to be caught. On their path, which they consider as the right one. While keeping in mind and maintaining their inner preciousnesses. They experienced student years at a university as well as bullets in demonstrations, arrests, long torture, most of them sentences for many years or even, originally, death. They might had not sensed they could survive. Later, after all the experience, they successfully got away from Myanmar. Some luckily escaped before cought. Many of them continue to engage anywhere, including Mae Sot, a town surnamed as Little Burma or the City of Exiles.