9999 in Bangkok

[altsean@xxxxxxxxxx]

The day started for many, in front of the Burmese Embassy, where at nine
minutes past nine, protestors from 15 organisations (many of whom had been
camping on the pavement of noisy Sathorn Road) burnt the flag. 

Placards with such statements as "NLD is our Government", "Asean
non-interference policy useless", "Support CRPP", "To Thai, Asean: Should
you be friends of military dictator?" mingled with the fighting peacock
flags and banners of different groups on the crowded pavement. The air was
filled with the sounds of the pro-democracy song "Ah ye chi bi", which was
sung repeatedly with such gusto that it could be heard above the traffic.
Black t-shirts featuring the word "Courage" in English, Burmese and ethnic
languages were  extremely popular, as were the stickers and badges on the
same theme.

Later in the morning, the group swelled to about 500 people when other
Southeast Asians joined the group. Just after 11 a.m. the women and
children at the protest gathered in front of the embassy gates to chant
slogans and make speeches. Some women wore the sloped peasants hat, a
symbol of the NLD, all clutched yellow flowers and yellow balloons. The
yellow balloons were later released into the sky by the women to symbolise
the country's desire for freedom (the children, who clung determinedly to
their balloons, were allowed to keep them). Later one, some of the women
distributed the yellow flowers,  several Thai police in charge of crowd
control were seen to be wearing the flowers on their uniform.

Towards noon, several protestors moved to Chualongkorn University to
participate in a discussion on the crisis on East Timor. The leaders of the
protestors from Burma could not attend, as they had to negotiate with the
Thai police not to arrest the demonstrators. The police were under pressure
from the Burmese Embassy, which was outraged that people were free in
Bangkok to sing outside their walls. At last check, the prostestors
continued to stay outside the embassy unharmed on the understanding they
would leave tonight.

Meanwhile, in the evening, activists attended at "Harmony 99" concert,
organised by Amnesty International Thailand and Human Rights Action Center,
which featured music performers from Thailand, USA, Denmark and Sweden.
Speakers at the concert highlighted the situation in Burma and East Timor
in between the spirited performances of Breeze, Dear Mom, Raven Symone,
Silly Fools and Glen Phillips. After the concert, Burma activists stayed on
to distribute campaign materials to the performers.

For many of us, 9999 was a day full of thoughts and actions to support
human rights and democracy. As we end the day, we think of our friends
around the world, and most particularly in Burma, and hope that their
spirit remains strong to struggle on for another day...



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A L T S E A N - B U R M A
Alternative Asean Network on Burma
Tel: 66 2 275 1811 * Fax: 66 2 693 4515
<altsean@xxxxxxxxxx>