Uncle Leo's brief biography & memor (r)

[jem@xxxxxxxxxxx]

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

nin@xxxxxx wrote:
> 
> From: Khin Ni Ni Thein <nin@xxxxxx>
> 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.
>                ---------------END TEXT---------------
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I pray for Uncle Leo.  -JEM