Part III

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Dr. Tint Way's Interview (Part II)

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Dr. Tint Way's Interview with SBS radio (Part I)

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Letter from Australian Prime Minister to Dr. Tint Way

An Australian MP's response to Dr. Tint Way

Dr. Win Naing's interview with DVB

Letter to Minister of Health Dr. Kyaw Myint

November 15, 2007

The Honorable Dr Kyaw Myint
Minister of Health
Ministry of Health
Naypyidaw, Myanmar
Email: dmkm@health.gov.mm

Dear Dr Kyaw Myint

We, the Concerned Burmese Physicians and Professionals would like to bring to your attention the following accounts of life in Burma, with particular reference to the health system and its failure to attend to the basic medical needs of the populace.

The conscience of the world was moved by recent events. An editorial in the prestigious British Medical Journal The Lancet (vol. 370, 27 October 2007) pointed to the ailing health system of Burma, which has not coped with the demands placed on it, leaving Burma with a rank of 190th out of 191 nations in health care provision.

The Lancet article expressed concern about the recent disruption of food distribution programs for poor people, orphans and patients with tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, etc, as well as the ICRC's suspension from carrying out many field operations, which has impeded the relief work of the Red Cross inside Burma. The editorial went on to state that "military misrule," the root cause of the suffering, was largely responsible for Burma's humanitarian crisis, and that it was man-made, as in Zimbabwe.

It also stressed the urgent need to address the root causes of both the health system failure and the widespread suffering among the people, as well as the necessity to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those in the most desperate need by preventing it from being siphoned off.
The following account, which we received from sources inside Burma in recent weeks, gives a true representation of the suffering of the great majority of the Burmese people: “The people are suffering grievously. Prices of food and bare essentials continue to rise sky-high. There is no adequate medical treatment for the sick. Unless you have money you cannot get treatment at all. If you can get into a general hospital you have to supply even cotton wool when necessary. Even in emergencies requiring blood transfusion, relatives are needed to seek the assistance of compatible donors through the black market and to offer high prices to ensure an adequate supply,just as in an auction. A relatively high percentage of the population is affected by beriberi, including children and monks.”

As a concerned Burmese physician and professional group, we call upon you and the government of Burma to allow the ICRC or the UN to monitor the distribution of aid to the most needy people of Burma and to rectify the ailing health care system by investing a larger proportion of GDP in it, implementing a more efficient health system, in which all donors’ blood are appropriately screened for HIV & HepA,B,C and patients are not required to supply their own bandages and cotton wool or to bid for blood supplies.

We also call upon the government to allow the ICRC to see political detainees and provide necessary assistance.

Yours sincerely

Dr Raymond Tint Way, MB BS, MM, FRANZCP

Consultant Psychiatrist & Member of CBPP

Suite 7, 83 George St, Parramatta, NSW 2150,Australia.

Ph: 61 2 96335155 Fx: 61 2 96335166 Mobile: 0416220208

Email: jostint@hotmail.com


BBC interview by Dr. Ko Ko Lay

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Statement regarding arrests of innocent family members (7/2007)

Concerned Burmese Physicians and Professionals Statement regarding arrests of innocent family members ( 7/2007)

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We, the Concerned Burmese Physicians and Professionals are saddened and outraged to learn that SPDC continues its practice of holding activists' families hostage. This is in blatant disregard for basic human rights and international norms. Those continued arrests, especially arrests of innocent family members, torture of detainees and denial of medical access for detainees reflect SPDC's lack of respect of international pleas. Those acts also reaffirm the world community's suspicion that SPDC has no sincere desire for genuine dialogue and national reconciliation.

We call upon SPDC to take the following steps unequivocally to start a genuine dialogue and national reconciliation.

1. Immediately release all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
2. Stop arrests and torture of detainees.
3. Allow detainees immediate access to medical care.
4. Grant international human rights groups and family members access to detainees.

We also ask international human rights groups to continue their efforts to help those in detention and we stand by ready to assist in anyway we can.

We will continue to push for United Nations' brokered mediation as well as bilateral and multilateral actions by the United States and its allies until our goals are met.

We again strongly pledge our continued commitment and support for our people's struggle for freedom and national reconciliation.

Concerned Burmese Physicians and Professionals
http://cmpp-burma.blogspot.com/
October 22, 2007

Invictus

B E L I E V E !

B E L I E V E !

For freedom Burmese people cry.

" So do I "

For food Burmese people cry.

" So do I "

For families Burmese people cry.

" So do I "

For friends Burmese people cry.

" So do I "

From fear Burmese people fly."

So do I

"Said a little caged bird not yet in the sky,"

I believe, perhaps one day, all will be free ".

Said the Burmese people, " So do we "

kklay20/10/2007

Article published in a US newspaper by a concerned Burmese physician

CURRENT HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN MYANMAR NEEDS YOUR HELP

Recently, some of us may have noticed the disturbing news from Myanmar (formerly Burma) both in this paper and the national news media. Being a native of that country, I would like to inform the readers about the current crisis with a special appeal for help particularly from our elected officials.

For 19 years, Myanmar has been ruled by the world's most repressive military regime, after it brutally crushed a popular democratic uprising in 1988 when 3,000 people were killed, thousands imprisoned and many ran away to border areas as refugees or freedom fighters hoping to start an armed struggle against the military. Instead they were outmatched by the well equipped Myanmar army. For the last twelve years the Generals also have kept the democratic opposition leader Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, who had won the noble peace prize in 1991 for her unarmed struggle, under house arrest. Her party won the elections in 1990, the results of which were ignored by the military junta. Many concerned and well meaning countries lead by the USA had condemned the military regimen repeatedly and applied economic sanctions in the past and present.

With this background, many a time I had been asked by puzzled friends in the West. How come, the military remains in power when even the Berlin wall had fallen? And why doesn’t the population of 48 millions rises up against the 450,000 man strong military?

The first question as to why the regime survives despite the sanctions is simply because there are other nations that don’t impose sanctions, but encourage trade including sales of arms. In return they were able to buy natural resources from Burma at cheap prices through deals offered by junta led companies. Myanmar is their economic colony. The country at the top of this list is China followed by the neighboring ASEAN countries. That’s how the Military regime has avoided economic collapse but it is at the expense of the country and its citizens because it is becoming one of the poorest nations of the world, instead of the rising star it was in Southeast Asia some 60 years ago.

Events that had taken place in the last two weeks should have answered the second question as to why many prior uprisings failed. It is because, the military doesn’t hesitate a minute to shoot the peaceful unarmed demonstrators. They don’t operate under the norms that you and I understand. This time that barbaric act is more obvious when they did not hesitate to kill even the highly revered Buddhists monks who initiated the “saffron revolution” two weeks ago. Pictures of blood shed were all over the news lately. That should also put to rest some of the misconception in the West that this predominantly Buddhist nation discriminate against people of the other faiths. It is the ruthless military regimen which suppresses any individual of any faith including their own Buddhist monks as soon as one starts demanding for freedom, human rights and democracy. Earlier this week, President Bush condemned the military’s action in Burma demanding to stop the killing of unarmed protesters. He and the UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown led an effort to place this matter on the agenda for discussion at the United Nations Security Council. But to no one's surprise of those who follow the Myanmar news in the last two decades that motion was vetoed by the two other permanent members of the UNSC, China and Russia, as usual. The international community is back to the helpless state again like it had been in the last 19 years.

But now, you as a conscientious human being or a friend of the Myanmar citizens can help. China is the country with most influence on the current military junta. As an emerging power and a global citizen, it should do the right thing by prevailing upon the military junta to stop the ongoing violence against its own people. It should firmly urge the junta to start working for the national reconciliation and dialogue with the imprisoned political activists including Aung San Suu Kyi which should lead to a free civil society and a democratically elected government in Burma. Otherwise its reputation as a good global citizen is at risk especially just a year before it intends to be the friendly, modern and welcoming host of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Please write letters and petition to the Chinese government and its citizens to facilitate this process by pulling the plug on the Myanmar military. Otherwise calls for boycotting the 2008 Olympics may become inevitable. Though we generally discourage using sports to win political objectives, dire events call for dire actions and the Myanmar people are in dire strait at present. Please help them. This is their only chance to make a difference after many prior failures played to the same old playbook.

Dr T.N. Oo.

Burma Buddhists and Bad Kings

Burma Buddhists and Bad Kings

Anawrahta established the first unified Burma
He succeeded by propagating Buddhism by Theravada
He needed the Tipitaka to standardize Sasana
King Manuha denied Anarahta’s request
He was duly dethroned and detested.

King Narathu killed his father Alaungsithu by suffocation
Murdered his brother Min Shin Saw by poisoning
Insulted the monks by lying
Pantthaku Mahathera admonished him
Narathu was beheaded by the Sri Lankese king
(Hence he is known as the “Kalakya Min”.)

King Shwe Nan Kyawt Shin was dethroned by Mohnyin Shan
Ava was over-run and ransacked by the northern men
Tho Han Bwa was proclaimed as King of Ava by his father
He ruled the country with an iron fist and torture
Men, women and monks suffered thereafter.

Min Gyi Yan Naung came to their rescue
He killed Tho Han Bwa and his men in retinue
By showing Burmese swordsmanship anew
He showed his moral and manual courage true
He renounced the kingship and manhood too.

U Ottama the monk opened the Burmese eyes
To fight for the people’s rights the British denied
He was imprisoned and disrobed
But he resisted and came out still robed
He instilled in the Burmese a hope
They fought for self determination in a ready mode.

U Wisara followed in the U Ottama’s footsteps
He too was arrested
He fought defrocking by fasting
British could not destroy his determination
He died after five months in incarceration
His statue was erected after independence in celebration.

The Japanese Fascists ruled Burma here
They ransacked, raided and raped for three years
They too were anti-Buddhist to be clear
They paid no respects to the Buddhist monks
They were chased out and flunked.

General Ne Win had two faces
One was religious to be seen by the populace
Another was murderous to all men and monks in case
They were opposing his grip on power base.

He tried to unite different sects of monks in Burma
By sponsoring seminars and selecting Sangha Nayakas
He even erected a pagoda by the name of “Wizaya”
But he disrobed and destroyed many Sanghas
He ordered his secret agents to persecute in camera.

Now SPDC is doing the same thing
Befitting the lackeys of Fascists and sons of U Ne Win
They are killing Buddhist monks and destroying
Monasteries, pagodas and Buddhist cultural things
They will certainly end in A-wi-zi hell
Like all anti-Buddhist criminals before them have dwelled.

But, it is a tragedy for the country
As it has lost the religion and democracy
Only political power matters to the SPDC
People have to fight hard and long from this tyranny
Encouraging thing is that most peoples support this struggle
Except the Russian and China double
Victory is with the Sangha and people
The fight will be through!
Hold on, Carry on!

Aesclepius B

Is it time for the doom of Buddhism in Burma?

Dear Members,

I am trying to find the answer and I don't have the intention of disparaging our Buddhism since I think I am a follower with a serious faith. I used to be a traditional Buddhist and recently I am tryingto explore the essence of Buddhism. I thought I did the right thing to believe in our Buddha's teaching.

Usually the starting point of Buddhism is to take refuge in three jewels, namely Buddha, Dhamma, and Sanghas, as everybody knows. Because we believe that by doing this we will be protected from some kind of unforeseeable misfortune. Right now our at least psychological protectors are facing perishment imposed by evil forces. So the inevitable question arises right now is are they really protecting us. Please don't accuse me of Deiti's because I am still deeply believe in our Buddha's teaching and thisis my own decision without anybody's influence and I won't regret bydoing this. But when and if this question arises from more than 50million population, what is the explanation?

We all know that there are five major sins in Buddhism, namely 'Pancanantariya Kamma' and if someone perpetrate one of those acts, he or she will have retribution right away. At this time and age, I am wondering why the punishment is delayed. Will it ever happen in our lifetime? If not then what we learned since we are young are questionable and become dubious. Because those evil, monk-killers are still on the throne and people are thinking of negotiation with those religionless for a better life but ?without the sasana. OurBuddha said, if you jump from a cliff, you will die only once. But if you don't know the dhamma your suffering will be endless in infinite lives. I still strongly believe in our Buddha teaching and I don't want to see our sasana easily disappear and is destroyed by those Deitis . Sanghas are assumed as the sons of Buddha, because they are the carriers of our sasana for more than 2500 years. With their great sacrifices and endless efforts, we can learn the precious teaching of our Buddha and can think of seeing Nirvana in our life time even without personally worshipping or refuging with a live Buddha. Needless to say the Sanghas right now come out for the suffering ofthe people at the same time sacrificing their lives, we should protect our sasana and our eternal benefactors. I would say it is the last battle and we should come out and do something for our religion. We need everybody's effort to bring down the evil regime since we see the evil forces are winning the battle. Everybody please actively participate in our activities before it is too late.

Regards,

Richard
ျမန္မာစာ ေရးသားရန္

Letter to Mrs. Bush

Dear Mrs. Bush,

We thank President Bush's administration for its strong commitment to Burmese cause for democracy and freedom. We also thank you for taking a personal interest in helping Burma gains freedom. Even though it is encouraging for the United Nations and specifically the Security Council to take a strong interest in Burma, we are genuinely afraid Burmese generals are not sincere and again deploying delaying tactics.

There are daily reports of continued arrests and torture while junta offers dialogue with insincere preconditions. Revered Buddhist monks are still being forcibly disrobed and subjected to torture while the international community waits. In recent news, a prominent '88 generation student leader Ko Htay Kywe and five other student activists were arrested. An NLD member and two student activists died during interrogation. The military continues both daytime and night time raids and enforces a climate of intimidation.

In the past, Burmese generals released a fraction of detainees just to deflect the world's attention and soften a stepped up measures against them. In the end, there were more political prisoners in the junta's jails and torture centers. We are afraid it is happening again. We again do not want to forget about the murder, rape, forced relocation, destruction of villages and pillaging suffered by various ethnic groups for years under the same murderous military regime.

Mrs. Bush, the world must not let Burmese people down again. United States must take a leading role to save those innocent lives. Time is running out for those detainees. They are dying in the regime's torture centers as the United Nations Security Council waits for the next step. The Security Council must demand that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi must be freed first in order to start a genuine dialogue and national reconciliation process. All political prisoners also must be freed immediately. The climate of intimidation must be lifted. Concrete actions must be taken if the regime fails to do so.

Burmese monks, students and people have asked for these things during the last peaceful demonstrations, "Will the United States come and help us?" We strongly ask the United States and its allies to consider a strong unilateral action if necessary to save those innocent lives. It is very important at this juncture to show the world that the United States has the political will and plan to take a strong and unilateral action if necessary. Burmese people are with the United States of America and will be grateful for your help.

Concerned Burmese Physicians and Professionals
October 15, 2007.

Urgent Release (6/2007)

Urgent Release

We, Concerned Myanmar Physicians and Professionals are extremely
concerned with the eye condition of Ko Hla Myo Naung, a recently
arrested 88 generation student leader. We understand that he is
suffering from severe glaucoma and has been suffering severe eye pain.
There is a very good possibility that he will lose eye sight if he
does not receive appropriate treatment immediately.

We request the SPDC to grant him immediate access to proper
medical care based on humanitarian ground.

We also request the international human rights groups, including
ICRC to request SPDC to grant immediate treatment.

We reiterate our call for immediate release of all political
prisoner and access to medical care while being detained.


Concerned Myanmar Physicians and Professionals

October 11, 2007

http://cmpp-burma.blogspot.com/