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Uncle Leo's brief biography & memor



Subject: Uncle Leo's brief biography & memorial online!

Dear Burma Net, 

Please join me to honour "Uncle Leo's memorial" online.

Uncle Leo refused to leave Burma and he chose the path that eventually led
to his death. Because he truely loved his country and its people. It was 
more open towards the end of his life his dislike for tyranny and 
injustice. ***He really believed that he would see a change for the better 
in Burma and dispite his nearest and dearest people's warnings which he 
ignored he chose to remain in Burma. He always considered it to be his 
country. ***

It is interesting to find out that he was arrested and some time later 
his house was searched. He had a portable phone and a spare fax machine 
which he has had for many years. For this he was charged and sentenced. 
Reliable sources maintain his incaraction was for political reasons as he 
was close to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and his arrest was a form of 
intimidation for her.

Here I quote the words of his dearest person, he said:
"Human rights is just a word and democracy is a dream but a large
river begins with a small drop of rain. This is a struggle of right 
against wrong and as history has shown eventually right and goodness 
always wins."

YES!!! RIGHT AND GOODNESS ALWAYS WIN !!!

Fight for democracy is stil on.......................................

	After reading above text, could you please stop reading it and 
	make a pause, 2 minutes, keep silence, pray for "Uncle Leo" 
	mentally whatever language you use, whatever religion you hold 
	or no religion you hold. Please send your name back to me 
	saying that "I pray for Uncle Leo".
	We honour "Uncle Leo".

Thank you very much in advance.

With metta and solidarity,
Ni Ni
 .......................................................................

              "Biography of Mr. James Leander Nichols"



James Leander Nichols			Born: 8/6/31 in Rangoon Burma
					Died: 22/6/96 in Rangoon Burma

Better known as Uncle Leo he was the son of George Alexander Nichols, a
Greek descendent, who owned a stevedoring shipping company, Nichols & Sons
Ltd. in Rangoon. As the Nichols' were pro-British, when the Japanese invaded
Burma during the second World War the family had no choice but to walk out
of Burma leaving their wealth behind them. Uncle Leo's father died while on
the long treck to India.

Uncle Leo went to boarding school in the hills of Darjeeling, India.

After the war the family returned to Burma where Uncle Leo was the third
generation Nichols to be working with the third generation Scandinavian ship
owners. He worked with his Uncle Jimmy Gray, manager of the company and his
brother Alexander, now deceased.

Married to his current wife Felicity in 1951, Uncle Leo took a position with
United Liner Agencies as their General manager in Rangoon. Felicity and
Uncle Leo have five children, William, David, Celia and Lorna residing with
their mother in Australia and Aileen in the United States. When Ne Win came
to power in 1962 the company was nationalised and Uncle Leo had once again
lost security.

Soon after he was appointed as Honorary Consul General for Norway, Sweden,
Denmark, Finland and Switzerland. Uncle was forced to give up the position
in 1981 when a close colleague acting on behalf of the government of Burma
was accused of corruption. Uncle was taken in for questioning for three days
while his colleague was imprisoned for many years. Uncle gave up his post,
however he continued to work representing the governments in an unofficial
capacity.

During his life he spent much of his spare time working and donating to the
sick, frail, old and young. He dedicated the last decades of his life to
helping those people less fortunate and weaker than he. Working through the
Roman Catholic Churches in Burma, Uncle Leo supported thousands of orphans
and ensured that they had the best possible opportunity to make a life for
themselves. They all loved him dearly as did all people from all corners of
the globe who had the honour of meeting him in his diplomatic capacity.

While Uncle Leo was not frantically political he had a dream for his
country. Godfather of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, he was her faithful and devoted
friend. Through her he could see hope for his country and he lusted the
freedom her determination will one day bring the people of Burma.

Uncle Leo died at the hands of the military dictatorship of Burma. Arrested
in May 1996 for, according to the military," operating and illegal fax
machine", it is believed his three year sentence was in reality punishment
for loving and helping Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

After serving two and a half months of his three year prison term Uncle Leo
died on the 22nd. June 1996 at 11 A.M. at the Rangoon General Hospital. It
is believed that he was moved from the prison hospital to RGH just one hour
before his death. A military conducted autopsy, without independent
monitoring, found that Uncle Leo had died from a brain haemorrhage.

The Funeral, which was conducted by the military, was held at Saw Bwa Gyi
Christian Cemetery. While friends and family did attend it is understood
that the military warned them not to.

At 2.00 P.M.  on the 23rd. of June 1996, Uncle Leo was laid to rest. He will
be remembered as one of the great fathers of Burma and a man who's passion
for his country and his people exceeded all else.

There will be a memorial service on the 30th. of  June in Rangoon provided
permission is obtained from the authorities.
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