Sai Awn
Articles by this Author
Burmese activism in the new technology: How IT is helping and hampering movements
- By Sai Awn
- Published 06/15/2008
- News Analysis
- Unrated
The magnificent nature of darkness
- By Sai Awn
- Published 05/23/2008
- Environment
- Unrated
She sat on her sofa, a faint light emanating from a white candle burning beside her. Like the previous year, she wondered whether she could last a bit longer than an hour with the electricity and appliances turned off. Last year on March 31, she and her family had turned off the power for more than an hour.
The Burmese community in Australia felt anger towards the Burmese military junta after the release of the referendum voting results last week. On 15 May, the state-controlled media announced that 92.4% voters have turned “Yes” to the nationwide referendum in Burma. This announcement was made despite the Cyclone Nargis hitting central Burma in Irrawaddy and Rangoon divisions, leaving at least 134,000 dead or missing and up to 2.5 million people homeless.
Burmese people are now suffering from the great impact of
Cyclone Nargis. It is very shocking to hear that the death toll has increased
dramatically three days after it hit last Saturday. An Asian expert has predicted that the death toll could mount up to 250,000.
However, the US
diplomat said on Wednesday more than 100,000 people have been killed with
millions homeless. This is a great horrifying news for Burmese community from
inside and outside the country as well as people around the world.

The Australian Foreign Minister, Mr Stephen Smith calls the Burmese regime to engage in a genuine process of political reform and national reconciliation, not a sham ‘roadmap to democracy’.The call comes after the Burmese democratic groups in Australia sent letters to Mr Smith and urging him to approach the SPDC’s representatives in Australia to offer the Australian Electoral Commission by conducting free and fair voting for the Burmese citizens in Australia.
The International Burmese Monks Organisation ( Australia )
calls for a Global Day of condemnation for Burmese military’s 10 May
referendum.Sayadaw U Dhammacara, a representative of the IBMO ( Australia ) said the Burma military’s referendum on 10th
May 2008 is an undemocratic and unconstitutional plebiscite.

The Sydney based Burmese Medical Association (BMA) organized a fundraising program for Humanitarian Relief in Burma for the first time since they migrated to Australia.The fundraising program emerged after thousands of peaceful demonstrators were attacked by Burma’s military government in September.

Australian TV channel ten celebrity, James Mathison leads a mass protest rally to urge the Australian government to stop the police and intelligence training program in Burma. Australian Idol Host, Mathison with the support of Sydney Burma Network organises a protest rally at Sydney's Town Hall after he saw the bloody crackdown occurred in Burma in September.
United religions pray for Burma
- By Sai Awn
- Published 10/22/2007
- Human Rights
- Unrated

People of all faiths and spirituality from different communities and organizations in Sydney pray for peace and justice for the people of Burma.The National Council of Churches in Australia, in collaboration with Caritas Australia organized a National Day of Prayer of Burma this afternoon at Martin Place, Sydney. One of prayer rally organizer from Caritas, Tim O’Connor said “we show our solidarity to the many suffering people of Burma and particularly to the many courageous Buddhist monks and nuns.”

