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- The Ethnic groups of Burma celebrate Union Day in Japan
The Ethnic groups of Burma celebrate Union Day in Japan
- By Admin
- Published 02/13/2006
- Activities of SSND
- Unrated
The Ethnic groups of Burma celebrate Union Day in Japan
Exiled nationals from Burma commemorated the 59th Anniversary of the Union Day at their respective areas around the world.
In Japan, the 59th Anniversary of the Union Day was celebrated fabulously and collectively by all the ethnic groups of Burma in Japan at the Minami Ootsuka hall in Tokyo on 12, February, 2006.
The function was organized by the Association of United Nationalities (Japan) (AUN) and all ethnic groups, - Shan, Kachin and Karen, Nagas - and other groups who have arrived in Japan for various reasons took part in the ceremony.
Delegates from different ethnic groups, and different Democratic groups such as, National League for Democracy- Liberated Area, League for Democracy in Burma, and Burma Democracy Action Group were present at the marking ceremony. Each delegate was invited to speak about the struggle for the restoration of democracy and the causes and rights of the non-Burmese ethnic groups in Burma and discussed about using the word ‘military regime’ or ‘the junta’ or SPDC instead of ‘Burmese army’ or ‘Burmese soldiers’ so that misunderstanding, suspect and hatred will not be encouraged among the citizens of Burma.
The military government is dominated by Burmese and the other non-Burmese ethnic groups have been denied access to participate in the government since Ne Win took power by force in 1962.
Delegations from some Japanese NGOs such as, Refugee Assistant Headquarters (RAH), Japan Association for Refugees (JAR), People Forum for Burma (PFB) also were present at the function and pledged to render their assistance to the restoration of democracy, and humanitarian aid to the refugees from Burma to the utmost.
The special guest invited to the Union Day Ceremony was Dr. Lian H.Sakhong the General Secretary of the Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) and he addressed the ceremony.
He said “In the past, ethnic nationalities respected and accepted General Aung San as he respected the rights and freedom vice versa. When the General had gone, the rights and freedoms of the ethnic groups have deteriorated and been abused. We are oppressed more than the Burmese people in general. However, in the grave situation like this, Burmese and non-Burmese people should be united so that we work effectively to overthrow the military and the oppressing government and their supporters in Burma’ he explained.
He said that the Japanese Government and the people of Burma should put effective pressure on the military regime to practice democracy.
Other than the normal function of the ceremony, there were another two special events: one is that a democratic activist, Major Sein Myint (retired) donated 1 million yens to the fund of the AUN. Other is that the AUN awarded Oo Shwe Ba (Mr. Hisao Tanabe) who has voluntarily helped the activities for democracy in Burma for many decades with the Award for ‘A Friend of Burma’.
The audience was entertained by the traditional dancing and songs of the different ethnic groups including Burmese dancing and songs. The entertainment was continued with Okinawa dancing by Japanese people. The function was over at 7:00 pm Japan time. The ceremony was attended by about 300 people altogether.
Source in Burmese: Myint Htoon (Japan)
In Japan, the 59th Anniversary of the Union Day was celebrated fabulously and collectively by all the ethnic groups of Burma in Japan at the Minami Ootsuka hall in Tokyo on 12, February, 2006.
The function was organized by the Association of United Nationalities (Japan) (AUN) and all ethnic groups, - Shan, Kachin and Karen, Nagas - and other groups who have arrived in Japan for various reasons took part in the ceremony.
Delegates from different ethnic groups, and different Democratic groups such as, National League for Democracy- Liberated Area, League for Democracy in Burma, and Burma Democracy Action Group were present at the marking ceremony. Each delegate was invited to speak about the struggle for the restoration of democracy and the causes and rights of the non-Burmese ethnic groups in Burma and discussed about using the word ‘military regime’ or ‘the junta’ or SPDC instead of ‘Burmese army’ or ‘Burmese soldiers’ so that misunderstanding, suspect and hatred will not be encouraged among the citizens of Burma.
The military government is dominated by Burmese and the other non-Burmese ethnic groups have been denied access to participate in the government since Ne Win took power by force in 1962.
Delegations from some Japanese NGOs such as, Refugee Assistant Headquarters (RAH), Japan Association for Refugees (JAR), People Forum for Burma (PFB) also were present at the function and pledged to render their assistance to the restoration of democracy, and humanitarian aid to the refugees from Burma to the utmost.
The special guest invited to the Union Day Ceremony was Dr. Lian H.Sakhong the General Secretary of the Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) and he addressed the ceremony.
He said “In the past, ethnic nationalities respected and accepted General Aung San as he respected the rights and freedom vice versa. When the General had gone, the rights and freedoms of the ethnic groups have deteriorated and been abused. We are oppressed more than the Burmese people in general. However, in the grave situation like this, Burmese and non-Burmese people should be united so that we work effectively to overthrow the military and the oppressing government and their supporters in Burma’ he explained.
He said that the Japanese Government and the people of Burma should put effective pressure on the military regime to practice democracy.
Other than the normal function of the ceremony, there were another two special events: one is that a democratic activist, Major Sein Myint (retired) donated 1 million yens to the fund of the AUN. Other is that the AUN awarded Oo Shwe Ba (Mr. Hisao Tanabe) who has voluntarily helped the activities for democracy in Burma for many decades with the Award for ‘A Friend of Burma’.
The audience was entertained by the traditional dancing and songs of the different ethnic groups including Burmese dancing and songs. The entertainment was continued with Okinawa dancing by Japanese people. The function was over at 7:00 pm Japan time. The ceremony was attended by about 300 people altogether.
Source in Burmese: Myint Htoon (Japan)