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A BURMESE DAY IN JAPAN



Reply-To: "TIN KYI" <tinkyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

A BURMESE DAY IN JAPAN 1999 August 29 Sunday:
IF WALLS HAVE EARS, THEY MIGHT HAVE MEMORISED BURMESE (SLOGANS): -
TWO HOURS A DAY
(by Zaw Win Maung)

Burmese dissidents in Tokyo are holding a two hour (14 to 16 hours JST)
standing demonstration in front of the junta embassy in Tokyo every day of
the week at least until a certain date in September in remembrance of the
8888 democracy uprisings in their homeland. It could go on until past the
1999 September 9, or '9999' in short. Participation per day is between 15 to
35 including one to five female activists.
When I arrived at the rally venue Sunday nineteen activists clutching
placards of pro-democracy leaders and slogans in their hands held a silent
vigil from across the narrow street, facing the embassy with their backs to
a street wall. Every single dissident held a message written in Burmese,
English, and Japanese.
PARTICIPANTS-
A look at a cross section of the participants, depending on the day, would
show people from all walks of life: engineer, teacher, lawyer, geologist,
artist, civil servant, doctor, veterinarian, pianist, children and last but
not least students. I might as well add 'former ' in front of most of the
above.
They come from different groups. Most are from the National League for
Democracy (Liberated Area- Japan) (NLD- (LA-J)), the Burmese Association in
Japan (BAIJ), the Burma Youth Volunteer Association (BYVA), Students
Organization for Liberation of Burma (SOLB), Burmese Women's Union (BWU)
which together make up the Joint Action Committee (JAC).
KEEP IT UP-
Occasional passers by, today they were young ladies on motorbikes, would
shout encouragement in Japanese "Gan-ba-ray'' meaning 'Keep it up.'' A few
occasional reporters, if any, would come and go in between the two-hour
session in the sultry outdoors afternoon demonstration.
It is hard to believe that many here today has been showing for the last ten
years their support for the National League for Democracy led by Aung San
Suu Kyi at this same place.
CALL IT A DAY-
At about 3:45 p.m. one of the demonstrators on request would give a short
impromptu speech.
Then a flag (with the emblem of a fighting peacock) bearer and one or two
slogan leaders would cross the street and take place right before the
embassy gates. They would lead the group chant loud and clear pro-democratic
slogans in Burmese.
Then comes "Ga-ba-ma-kyay-bu ''and "A-yay-kyi-bi-nyi-naung-a-paung-do'' sung
in chorus.
Then it is almost four O'clock. The dissidents would disperse. Probably with
democracy on their minds. Next to leave are the few police officers on duty,
with probably the same tedious watch duty tomorrow on their minds. Most
would walk away with quick steps. Some to work and some to rest. The now
shady place in front of the wall will be empty till two in the afternoon
tomorrow. If walls have ears they might now have memorized some Burmese
slogans. They might also have gained more insight into how things are done
in Burma under the boots.
TODAY'S IMPROMPTU SPEAKER was U Myint Swe. He said the democracy movement of
8888 (1998 Aug 8) is now on the shoulders of 9999 (1999 September 9). We are
assembled here, each doing his or her share of obligation, to hasten the
belated but inevitable democracy to Burma.
SLOGANS-
DEMOCRACY ya-shi-ye (Democracy for the people)--- (Do-a-yay= It is our
cause) 2.
Three way dialog (=junta, NLD& ethnic groups) ----- (Start) 2.
Committee Representing Peoples Parliament -------------- (We support) 2.
Human Rights Abuses -------------------------------------(Stop at once) 2.
Political Prisoners------------------------------------------ (Release at
once) 2.
Schools Schools -------------------------------------------(Open them now)
2.
Dictatorialism ----------------------------------------------(Down with it)
2.
Democracy A-Yay-Taw-Pon------------------------ ---(Aung ya myi=Must
succeed) 2.