Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for 14 years now unlawfully (even under Burmese law) by the iron fist Burmese military regime. She is to be “released” coming week but now “suddenly” there was an intruding visitor coming to her house and denying to leave. And now she’ll be put on trial and possibly jailed.
[Short Background: Aung San Suu Kyi has won election in 1988 but after brutally murdering and forcing her followers voting for freedom of Burma, the military regime took over even though they've lost the election back then. Worst, they put a woman under house arrest for that many years in fear that she will become free and free Burma. (Check other links in the blog for information and videos regarding 1988 Bloody Day, Burma, cruelties of the regime or more about Aung San Suu Kyi)]
On March, 2008, Athein stepped out from Portland, OR on a journey to New York, to raise awareness about the crisis in Burma. He’ll walk over 3,000 miles to present a petition to the UN on August 8, 2008, the 20th anniversary of the 8-8-88 protests in Burma. [Click for more info on the 2 students and their backgrounds]
***A MESSAGE FROM ATHEIN***
It was for so many reasons that I left my regiment and my friends, but this does not mean that I ran away from my country. I have always wanted to do something for my country, but I don’t know what the right way is for me to do this. Before, I believed we needed international help for Burma, but I haven’t seen any help from the world. There are only two choices left for every life in Burma, become a fugitive and rebel against their law, or obey their rules and stay with their ruling one-power government.
I already donated my life for my country, and now I have decided to do something that nobody else would do. Maybe someone has already done this, maybe this is the first time, but I am not crazy and I am going to do this until my job is done. I have decided to march to New York from my city.
I live in Portland, Oregon, about 2,500 miles east of New York by plane. Walking this journey will be at least 3,000 miles. It won’t be easy to get there like sitting on a plane is, I know and understand that I will be walking for more than six months, and I don’t know what I will have to face on my journey.
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