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Win Tin visits political prisoners’ families
Dec 22, 2008 (DVB)–Former long-term political prisoner Win Tin visited the families of several political prisoners in Rangoon yesterday to offer words of comfort and support.
Win Tin, a senior National League for Democracy member and veteran journalist, had served more than 19 years in prison when he was released in September.
"I went to see them in North Okkalapa with about ten other people, and we gave them what we could," Win Tin said.
"No one looked dejected; they thanked us for the visit and told us that they would do what they had to do.”
Win Tin said the group was followed by government agents as they visited the families.
"I told them to do what they had to do but not to harass the households. I said they should ask me if they wanted to know something,” Win Tin said.
“They followed me on seven or nine motorcycles and caused alarm among the local people,” he said.
“They are trying to intimidate people, and they are also testing me."
Nyunt Ntyunt U, the mother of Pannit Tun, said she was very pleased to see Win Tin.
"He is an example to the people who have been charged and imprisoned unfairly,” she said.
“He still looks very alert after being imprisoned for such a long time. He has an open-minded view of people."
<.p> Soe Myint Htein's daughter Lin Lin Hlaing said the visit had given her comfort.
"I am encouraged by the fact that they came to give words of comfort, not that they came to give us presents,” she said.
“I feel encouraged by it, and that spiritual strength is the most important thing for us.”
Reporting by Yee May Aung
USDA members receive training in Naypyidaw
Dec 22, 2008 (DVB)–Members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association and Swan Arr Shin from Bago division have been sent to Naypyidaw for training, according to a Swan Arr Shin member who attended the course.
The Swan Arr Shin member, who comes from Taungoo township, said 350 people were recruited from the Taungoo district – two from each village – and 100 were selected to attend the training in the new capital in early December.
More candidates have been selected for future training programmes, the member said.
Each trainee was given a 100,000 kyat monthly stipend and new recruits were paid 50,000 kyat, he said.
The member also said that 500 pairs of Buddhist monks’ robes and 500 bamboo sticks have been put aside in Taungoo district USDA office.
District chief organiser Maung Maung Ta reportedly instructed members to assemble 1000 more pairs of robes and sticks in order to suppress any monk-led uprisings similar to the September 2007 demonstrations.
In Rangoon division, USDA members have been given riot control training and will also receive training in organising and administration in the near future, according to a source close to the organisation in Rangoon.
Burma analyst Aung Thu Nyein said the training could be part of the regime’s preparations for the 2010 elections.
The USDA head office in Rangoon refused to comment on the allegations.
Reporting by Htet Yazar
Youth activists launch jasmine campaign
Dec 22, 2008 (DVB)–A group of young people in Rangoon is planning a two-week campaign encouraging people to wear or display jasmine flowers to show support for political prisoners and opposition to the military regime.
According to one of the campaign leaders, who did not wish to be identified, jasmine was chosen as the symbol for the campaign because the Burmese word for jasmine can also mean the removal of the reigning powers.
“The campaign will start on Tuesday and will last two weeks,” the youth activist said.
“The purpose of the campaign is to do something that is easy for the public to join in with and to make young people more daring.”
The group hopes the public will join the campaign by wearing jasmine flowers, giving them as offerings at pagodas or displaying them in their homes.
The campaign leaders said the authorities could not legally arrest people for wearing, displaying or offering jasmine because it is part of Burmese tradition.
In November 2007, students at Rangoon Eastern University who wore black as a sign of mourning for those killed in the September protests were ordered to discontinue their campaign and sign an agreement promising not to wear black in future.
At about the same time, students at Prome University in Bago were not allowed on the university campus if they were wearing black.
The 88 generation students’ White Sunday campaign, also in 2007, in which participants wore white shirts and visited the homes of political prisoners, also met with official resistance, and many of those involved were later arrested.
Reporting by DVB
Bago residents accuse troops of hosting illegal gambling
Dec 22, 2008 (DVB)–Residents of eastern Bago division have complained that State Peace and Development Council troops have set up an illegal gambling centre on their base.
Residents said dice and card games, football pools, cockfights and other outlawed forms of gambling had been taking place on an artillery battalion compound near Ballnaygyi village.
The gambling centre has reportedly been set up by government troops with cooperation of similar centres in Bago, Thanatpin, Hlegu, Theinzayat towns.
One local resident said people could gamble there day or night, seven days a week, but said those who won money had to give a large proportion of their winnings to the army.
"They also employ young women to make the centres more lively," he said.
"People are pawning their homes, land and cars as they keep losing. Winners also have to give the army a generous cut."
Reporting by Khin Hnin Htet
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