Saturday, 02 August 2008

Khaing Moe Lunn helped to establish the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) on 9 April 1967 in Yangoon. It was founded by him and fourteen other Arakan men fighting for democracy. Originally the leader of the ALP was Khaing Pyi Thein, but the arrest of the original members on November 26th 1968, prevented any further democratic activism by the ALP and Khaing Pyi Thein’s leadership ended. Determined to revive the ALP and its pro democracy-efforts, Khaing Moe Lunn planned its revival while imprisoned. The (BSPP) Burma Socialist People Progressive party gave amnesty to most ALP members including Khaing Moe Lunn, as the remark of the triumph of assembly of International Sanghā. Actually they are imposed for 20 years imprisonment.

In 1971, Khaing Moe Lunn and seven jailed members of the ALP were released and relocated to the Winkha camp, occupied by the KNU. There, Khaing Moe Lunn survived as a medic and produced and sold charcoal.

On 7 January 1973 he decided to reestablish the ALP and begin fighting for democratic change in Burma. Khaing Moe Lunn by this time determined that given the long history of oppression and genocide of the Arakan people by the Burmese military, peaceful means were not working As a result Khaing Moe Lunn established the Arakan Liberation Army.

When Khaing Moe Lunn approached the KNU for an alliance, the KNU had already given its’ support to the Arakan Independence Organization (AIO) led by ALP’s original leader Khaing Pyi Thein. The KNU believed that Khaing Moe Lunn should speak with the KIO and work with them. Because at that time the KNU believed that one ethnic group should have one armed group. So, they wanted him to join the AIO and he sent many telegraphs to Khaing Pyi Thein. But the message didn’t get through. Without support of the AIO or the KNU, Khaing Moe Lunn decided to go to Vietnam to seek assistance. At last, the KNU gave their support to the ALP.

Then ALP and ALA grew stronger and stronger because there were many people who were interested in Arakan liberation and thanked the organizer, Khaing Soe Naing Aung, present vice president of ALP eastern border. They captured arms from the enemy. They tried to march to the Arakan State across the Rakhine mountain ranges, but failed. They first marched from WinKha camp to Thawlaetaw camp. On the 5th of June he decided to march with his forces from the Thawlaetaw camp through the Arakan State to the Chin State. On 20th of June they began this 1800 mile march. Before they reached Arakan State, they got the Arakan peoples support. On their journey they formed alliances with the (SSPP) Shan State Progressive Party, (SNLF) Shan Nationality Liberation Front and (PNO) Pa-O National Organization and they marched to the middle of Shan State to Northern Shan State. These forces met up with the KIA and moved to the far side of the Chintwin River. In April 1977, they reached the Naga Mountain ranges in Chin State near the border of India. The allied forces fought many battles galliantly, but were outnumbered, poorly equipped and low on rations.From there they marched to nearby Himawanta mountain ranges to avoid the enemy as much as possible. Khaing Moe Lunn told his friends that they will save their ammunition until they reached ithe Arakan State After suffering severe losses and seeing many friends die, Khaing Moe Lunn led his remaining forces on a journey back home to continue the fight from their home state.

On Saturday, June 4th 1977, eight miles away from the Morbane village on the way to the Arakan State with Burmese military forces closing in, Khaing Moe Lunn raised his pistol to his head and ended his life rather than suffer capture and torture at the hands of the Burmese.

Khaing Moe Lunn was ethnically a Rakhaing but he was above the racial prejeduice and dreamer of a liberated Arakan with the united strength of all Arakan people.He was one of the rare Rakhaing leaders with a clear vision for the people of Arakan.He knew very well that struggle of Arakan liberation will not be successful until and unless the second major community of Arakan known as the Rohingya are being incorporated into the liberation forces.So,he decided to meet the Rohingya leaders so that ALP aqrmy can be formed with all races of Arakan.

He went to meet a revolutionary Rohingya known as Sheik Ahmed later named as Bo Khaing Re Myint in ALP. He was a business man at Messod/Thailand engaged in trading border trade.Bo Khaing Moe Lunn persuaded him to take the responsibility to participate and recruit Rohingya youths in ALP.

ALP was blessed with Rakhaing and Rohingya people to carry on historical mission, unfortunately,they army could not reach to Arakan territory.U Khaing Ren Myint@Hj.Sheikh

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Ahmad alongwith other ALP Rakhaing and Rohingya comrades were arrested who were sentenced to death,however,they were later released by general Amnesty. Now U Khaing Re Myint Lives in Malaysia.

U Khaing Re Myint once visited the mother of BO Khaing Moe Lunn,when she met him she cried a lot embracing him telling that he found back her son who sacrificed his life for Arakan and requested to continue the uncomplete liberation struggle of Arakan as dreamed by her son until death.

Bo Khaing Moe Lunn was a real,visionary, far-sighted and politically sagacious Arakan leader blessed with all gifted qualities of a leader whose loss can not be recovered in the golden history of Arakan.All Arakan people disregarding race,religion and languge honor and salute this great son of the soil of Arakan.

Saturday, 02 August 2008 Maungdaw, Arakan: An officer of the Maungdaw Income Tax Department, U Aye Win was arrested by the special Crime Investigation Department of Maungdaw on July 30, said a local businessman.

The officer was posted on the Burma-Bangladesh special trading gate in Maungdwa town and his duty was to check and collect tax on export-import goods from Burma and Bangladesh , he added.

On a tip off, the officer was arrested after investigations at the outpost revealed that he allowed contraband goods to be exported to Bangladesh after taking bribes from traders of Maungdaw. He allowed mostly liquor and other contraband goods which are not listed as export items, said a trader who operates through the point.

This is the first time an income tax officer has been arrested on the border trading point.  His file has been sent to the authorities for necessary action. Exemplary punishment to the culprit has been recommended as a lesson to other officers working on the Burma- Bangladesh border trading points, said a source in the Customs Department.

From BNI

Saturday, 02 August 2008 Children suffering from Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) are crowding the Myitkyina Public Hospital in Kachin State 's capital Myitkyina in Northern Burma , hospital sources said.

There is now no place to admit new patients in the children's ward in the hospital because it already has over 80 DHF child patients. However, the hospital has officially declared that it has about 20 patients detected with the DHF disease following blood examination, said a hospital staff to KNG today.

Since last week, five or more patients who are not in a serious condition, though affected by DHF, have been attending the hospital for medication every day, a duty health worker in the children's ward told KNG.

A woman eyewitness told KNG today, this morning she saw that some patients were outside the children's ward free space and corridors because the ward is full with DHF child patients.

A nurse in the hospital said, "The number of DHF child patients have suddenly gone up this week in the hospital and most patients are between the ages two and 14.  The patients are suffering from high fever which is not declining.  The patients have been mainly diagnosed with malaria and are being treated with antibiotics."

However, all the cost of medicines has to be paid by the patients and they also have to pay 5,000 Kyat (US $4.2) per night when they hire a health staff in the hospital for taking care of them, according to hospital sources.

Sometimes, the health personnel have been coming to the aid of patients who do not have money to buy medicines. They are collecting the cost of medicines from among themselves in the hospital, added a hospital staff.

Meanwhile, private clinics in Myitkyina are also full with Malaria and DHF patients. The military authorities, however, are yet to take action despite the serious condition arising out of DHF in the township, said residents of Myitkyina.

Residents added, the DHF disease is serious and the infection is caused by mosquito bites. Mainly children are affected in Myitkyina because the military authorities in the township are yet to take up proper Malaria prevention programmes this rainy season.

Last year during this time, there were very few patients who came to Myitkyina Pubic Hospital with Malaria and DHF diseases, according to hospital sources.

From BNI

Friday, 01 August 2008

The Iron Cross (IC), the popular and famous music band in Rangoon has had to postpone its live performance to raise funds for Cyclone Nargis victims at the Thuwanha stadium because of the dilatory tactics of the ruling Burmese junta. The authorities told the music band earlier that they (authorities) had shifted dates from July 16 to August 24 because the military sports had to be held, according to source close to the IC. According to the source, "The authorities have delayed the live show thrice and if they delay it again the IC will not be able do the show to collect funds". Lay Phyu, Ahnge, Myo Gyi, and Wai Wai were to perform in the live show. According to IC fans, the authorities do not have much love for the IC because the band has not ever sung Burmese propaganda music. The IC band also planned to perform in Mon State earlier but the Southeast Command banned them after youths quarreled in the festival. However IC plans to have a stage show after the end of the Buddhist Lent in Kamawet village at the Kyaik Kamort Pagoda Festival in October 20, 2008. News - IMNA

Prominent writer and astrologer Min Thein Kha died on Friday morning at a private clinic in Rangoon after suffering from numerous ailments.

Min Thein Kha, (70) was a renowned writer and a famous astrologer. He and was suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, and other ailments over the last five years. He passed away on Friday at Rangoon's ThukhaKaba clinic, one of his pupil said.

"He died this morning at about 6 a.m. He was hospitalized since July 4. Doctors on July 15 discharged him from the clinic but since his health deteriorated, we took him to the clinic again yesterday," the pupil told Mizzima over telephone.

Min Thein Kha, who owns a ranch known as 'Ayudaw Mingalar' at Hmawbe Township, is known for his adventurous novels, fictional detective and historical and legendary stories. His characters including 'Sarpalin Hninmaung and Sanay Maung Maung' are popular among readers in Burma.

He was also famous for his astrological predictions and particularly known for giving names to famous actors, actresses and singers before they began their careers as celebrities.

In Burma, despite the modern lifestyle fast being adapted, people still believe in superstitious practices like renaming themselves before they choose a career to be successful.

Despite his later popularity Min Thein Kha did not have a successful beginning. As a young man, he worked hard as a waiter in a teashop in Central Burma's Chuak town in Magwe division.

He was also famously known for his benevolence in providing free food to whoever came to his 'Ayudaw Mingalar' ranch in Hmawbe township near Rangoon.

From Mizzima News