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a contribution on London Thingyan.



Dear Editor,
I would be most grateful if you could include the following
item in the reg.burma conference. 
Oung Myint Tun (omtun@xxxxxxxxxx)

A POST CARD FROM LONDON.

(BY OUNG MYINT TUN)


A few hundred Burmese democracy lovers, along

with several supporters from the international community,

gathered to bid farewell to the old year and welcome 

in the BURMESE NEW YEAR last Sunday in London

at a joyous and inspiring ceremony sponsored by 

U Uttara, a Burmese Buddhist monk, who escaped to

Thailand (in 1989) and then to London (in 1992),

from Taungyi (Shan State) where he had been pursued

by the military for his leading part in the 1988 nationwide

democracy movement in the Shan State, as the Secretary of 

the Young Buddhist Monks Association ( Rahan-pyo Ah Phwe ).

IN 1993, he set up a Buddhist monastry in London. Ever since,

his monastry has become a focal point not just for practicing

Buddhism but also for campaigning for the restoration of 

democracy in Burma.


The Thingyan celebration took place in  a huge hall rented by 

U Uttara, and was an elegant blend of religious rites and cultural

sights being reInforced with culinary bites.


The ceremony began with Buddhist precepts followed by the 

offering of a wide variety of tasty dishes and delicacies which 

were brought to the event by Burmese residents in the U.K.

( who formed the majority in the crowd ), and by friends

and supporters of the Burmese cause, who are British, Chinese,

Nepalese, SRI LANKAN and Bengali. After providing appetising 

food for the spirit and the tummies, delightful food for the 

eyes and ears of the crowd was provided by young Burmese 

performing Burmese dances and songs.


The occasion also provided delicious food to satisfy the exquisite 

political taste of the Burmese and British democracy campaigners 

in the U.K., by giving them the opportunity to do briefings and 

de-briefings and to strategise for future democracy campaigns 

in THE U.K.