The Asia-Pacific Peoples' Partnership on Burma (APPPB) provides daily updates on the situation on the ground in Burma.
A note from FORUM-ASIA

This is a daily update from the Asia-Pacific Peoples' Partnership on
Burma (APPPB). You can access the most up-to-date news on the situation
on the ground in Burma at:

http://www.apppb.blogspot.com/
For more information, please contact: +66 81 884 0772,
[email protected], CCing to Khin Ohmar, APPPB Coordinator, at
[email protected]

APPPB Update: Flower Baskets in Honor of Heroic Spirits Contnue in Rangoon

Dear All,

This afternoon at about 2-2:30 pm Burmese time, members of the '88
Generation Students swiftly gathered at a few public places in Rangoon
including this famous Yuzana Plaza in Tamwe Township and laid flower
baskets in commemorating and honoring the heroic monks and laypeople
who were killed by the security forces last week. Acoording to
eyewitnesses, a couple of hundreds people quickly gathered and
immediately dispersed as police cars arrived. At least five monastries
were raided in Rangoon last night on October 3.

Many reports inform you more arrests of activists inside Burma right
after the UN Special envoy Mr. Gambari left. Actually, number of
arrests had been made even while he was in the country for four days.
The military trucks going around some parts of Rangoon City and dragged
away some people last night as well (3/10/07) when threats were made to
those who involved in the peaceful protests. So far, we only know that
Mr. Gambari delivered a strong message to military regime's top leaders
but no substance of what they discussed has yet been released or
revealed.

The UN Human Rights Council has passed resolution on Burma which calls
Burma authority to allow the Special Rapporteur Mr. Paulo Sergio
Pinheiro to "access the current human rights situation and to monitor
the implementation of this resolution".

Cambodia's Prime Minister has urged neighboring countries of Burma to
work as a group to find a democratic solution to political crisis of
the country. The nearest neighbor, Thailand, however shows its concern
over affect on their Business if the protests prolong and the US and EU
imposed sanctions against Burma. What we are very sure of is that
Thailand will be the first and foremost country to feel the affect of
'spillover' from extreme crackdowns by the military regime in Burma as
we'd seen in 1988 right after the military coup in September.

However, we are dismayed that the government of Japan still mulling
over its decision over whether to stop overseas development aid to
Burma or not while the slain body of Japanese journalist flied back
home. We would like to see Japan's decisiveness in this scenario since
Japan is one of the main donors to Burma. Mr. Min Zaw, a Burmese
national who works for a Japanese newspaper, is released after six days
of detention 'for questioning' by the military regime in Rangoon today.

In Australia, as four Burmese continue their hunger strike in front of
the Burmese embassy other activities and actions take place in other
parts of the country to show their support for the people of Burma.
Today, Free Burma rally and hunger strike organized by the ACDB take
place in Sydney. We learn that Australian Sangha Association has also
put out a statement in support of the peaceful protests in Burma.

In Canada, a Press Conference was held in the Canadian Parliament in
Ottawa. Hon. David Kilgour had addressed to attending activists and
crowd and had called everyone attention on whether to go to the
Olympics would be held the government of China in 2008.

The European Union has also stepped up their pressure on Burma with
tougher sanctions while urging India and China to take a more robust
stance against the military regime.

In the US, the Congress has overwhelmingly voiced their support to
Burmese democracy protesters and condemned the military regime in
Burma. The US House of Representatives voted a resolution calling for
the release of opposition leader and Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi.

US senators also demanded that the US put its pressure on China and India to sever their ties with Burmese regime.

Solidarity and Support around the World

We also get news and emails that campaigners around the world will wear
red headbands in solidarity with the monks who are now under arrest and
tie these onto government buildings, religious shrines or key landmarks
to signify the thousands of lives currently hanging in the balance and
some even languishing as we speak.

It seems people are trying to find ways to regain their ground to
continue with the peaceful movement. Days ahead we are going to need
your supports so badly.

In Solidarity,

Khin Ohmar
APPPB Coordinator