Monks Slaughtered in Burma as reported by Buddhist Peace Fellowship

[emlev]

I just received this by email, checked it out and found it posted on the Buddhist Peace Fellowship website. Truly horrifying!

Sept 28, 07:

Update 9/28/07:

A dispatch received from someone with a relative in Yangon (Rangoon), via Richard Reoch of Shambhala:

We just got phone call with our sister living in Yangon about a few hours ago. We saw on BBC world, saying that 200 monks were arrested. The true picture is far worse. For one instance, the monastery at an obscure neighborhood of Yangon, called Ngwe Kyar Yan (on Wei-za-yan-tar Road, Yangon) had been raided early this morning.

A troop of lone-tein (riot police comprised of paid thugs) protected by the military trucks, raided the monastery with 200 studying monks. They systematically ordered all the monks to line up and banged and crushed each one's head against the brick wall of the monastery. One by one, the peaceful, non resisting monks, fell to the ground, screaming in pain. Then, they tore off the red robes and threw them all in the military trucks (like rice bags) and took the bodies away.

The head monk of the monastery, was tied up in the middle of the monastery, tortured , bludgeoned, and later died the same day, today. Tens of thousands of people gathered outside the monastery, warded off by troops with bayoneted rifles, unable to help their helpless monks being slaughtered inside the monastery. Their every try to forge ahead was met with the bayonets.

When all is done, only 10 out of 200 remained alive, hiding in the monastery. Blood stained everywhere on the walls and floors of the monastery.

Please tell your audience of the full extent of the fate of the monks please please !!!!!!!!!!!!
'Arrested' is not enough expression. They have been bludgeoned to death !!!!!!

The site's info continues with suggestions of "How You Can Support the People of Burma"
Please, everyone, do what you can!

[malaise]

1. The monks are no different than all the other people in

Rangoon or Iraq. I condemn the slaughter of all innocents everywhere.

[babylonsister]

2. How terribly sad-bludgeoned to death?! Now we see what

paid thugs are capable of; we have our own. Something else to think about...

[robinlynne]

38. That put my hair on end. My god we have hundreds of thousands of paid thugs here.

[uppityperson]

3. k&r. shit shit shit.

[seemslikeadream]

4. .

[LakeSamish706]

5. I honestly think that the UN should get involved in this and move in to this country...

Remove this despicable people from power and instill the rightfully elected Govt.

[Disturbed]

6. What is the UN good for?

Those doing the killing have a mindset that I cannot understand.

[Breeze54]

9. They will never get involved in this! Not militarily.

ASEAN influence in question / Will group's criticism of Myanmar change junta behavior?

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/world/20070930TDY04006.htm

snip-->

However, senior ASEAN foreign ministerial officials unanimously reaffirmed Friday the principle of not interfering in the domestic affairs of member countries, saying that it is hoped there was a good reason for the suppression :crazy: and that ASEAN does not have the power to change the junta's policies.

snip-->

Since then, Myanmar has restored diplomatic ties with North Korea for the first time in 24 years and held talks with high-ranking U.S. government officials for the first time in four years.

This approach was backed by China.

Myanmar also managed to get Russia to assist it with building nuclear research facilities.

Both China and Russia also provide weapons to Myanmar.

In addition, Myanmar is trying to befriend India, fearing that China's influence on the country will otherwise become too strong.

Myanmar protests smaller as junta seals off monks
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/09/28/news/myanmar.php

By Seth Mydans
Published: September 28, 2007


SNIP-->

Brutal attacks on monasteries and a heavy military presence outside their gates appeared to have choked off, at least for now, the huge demonstrations, led by monks, that have presented the military junta with its most serious challenge since it took power in 1988. Exile groups passed on many vivid, unconfirmed reports about brutality toward monks and their superiors. Many monks were reported to have been seized and driven away in trucks, and armed soldiers were said to have been preventing others from leaving.

"Wednesday night numerous monasteries were raided, and we have reports that many monks were beaten and arrested, and we have pictures where whole monasteries have been trashed, and blood, and broken glass," Villarosa said. With the monks contained, another diplomat said, the demonstrations seemed
to have lost their focus, and soldiers were quick to pounce on any groups that emerged onto the streets.

Snip-->

Heavy pressure at the United Nations General Assembly has forced the military to break a long period of exclusion and allow a visit from a special UN envoy, Ibrahim Gambari. He was expected to arrive Saturday in Myanmar from Singapore.

China and India trade with them and so they really won't do very much to stop the violence!

[Cleita]

24. The UN is controlled by our government, which is controlled by

the Bushistas. I don't think you will get any meaningful help there.

[alarimer]

51. China is blocking ANY effort with their veto on the Security Council

I swear, China is a cancer on the world. They still occupy Tibet after all these years and are now preventing any action being taken on behalf of the martyrs in Burma. Makes me sick.

[Gregorian]

7. Authoritarians need to learn humility and empathy.

This must happen.

[ClayZ]

8. ...

[roguevalley]

50. this makes me ill. I am so very, very sorry.

[emlev]

10. A couple of websites for news updates

NewsDesk

Asian Human Rights Commission

The Buddhist Channel

Haven't had time to check these out much. If you do and can post highlights, that would be much appreciated.

[FloridaJudy]

11. No words for this horror

Thanks for posting the link.

[RestoreGore]

12. Doesn't China support this military government?

Why isn't pressure being applied to them?

[emlev]

23. Petition: China Must Support People of Burma, Not the Military Regime

Sign this here.

[RestoreGore]

31. DONE. Thank you for the link.

[Kajsa]

37. Done. My concern is

how receptive will the Chinese government be?

We are asking them to respect human rights, freedom of assembly,
reject false imprisonment, etc.

If they are guilty of these same oppressive tactics,
how willing are they to urge Burma to respect human rights?

I signed it, anyway.

Oh, here's a link to Amnesty International.

http://www.amnesty.org/

I've received a number of e-mails from them these last three days.

Thanks so much for posting this thread.

[emlev]

52. Thank you for the important Amnesty link hidden in your reply!

Footage, another petition, and more. Folks, check it out.

[AlecBGreen]

33. China doesnt interfere in other countries "internal affairs"

b/c they dont want other countries interfering in THEIR internal affairs...

[seemslikeadream]

13. ..

[seemslikeadream]

14. ....

[nam78_two]

15. K&R.nt

:(

[Theres-a]

16. kick

[renie408]

17. This is horrific. There really just aren't words. n/t

[EFerrari]

18. What can we do?

I was so afraid this would happen. What can we do?

[emlev]

22. Here are suggestions from Buddhist Peace Fellowship

1) Join or organize a vigil in your town or city.
We have posted a calendar of vigils on the BPF website. There are currently events scheduled in New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington DC, and Milan (Italy). We are updating the list regularly, so please keep checking it. Check with your local BPF chapter to see if they are planning a vigil.

If you plan a vigil, we are encouraging people to use these common elements:

* Silent vigil, and hold to principles of nonviolence in support of the monks and nuns. If you do chant, use the Metta Sutta, as this is the chant the monks and nuns of Burma have been praying. Click here for a copy of the Metta Sutta that you can print and distribute to people at your vigil. Please avoid protest chants.

* Wear red or maroon.

* Bring a BPF banner, if you have one.

2) Sign a petition

AAVAZ Online Petition to Support Burma

U.S. Campaign for Burma Petition

The Buddhist Channel

3) Light a candle and place it in your window every night this week, along with this sign in support of the nonviolent protest. And please spread the word.

4) Make a donation to the Foundation for the People of Burma, an affiliated group of BPF that provides humanitarian aid to Burmese people of all ethnic backgrounds and religious beliefs.

5) Help get video equipment into Burma.
From BPF board member Jesse Maceo Vega-Frey:

In lieu of an actual physical international presence on the ground in Burma, one of the best ways we have to supporting the effort of the Burmese people is to make sure these lines of communication to the outside world stay open and up-to-date.

We are trying to find a way to gather photographic, video and transmission equipment and get it into Burma through contacts in Thailand. We would appreciate your help by sending any extra equipment of this nature that you may have to our office in North Carolina, where they will be compiled and sent as quickly as possible to the appropriate people. This can be old, used and even out-dated equipment--as long as it works and you are willing to part ways with it.

If you do not have equipment of this nature but would like to help you can also send donations to help pay for additional equipment and shipping charges. Please make checks payable to stone circles with “Burma video equipment” in the memo line.

Please send all resources to:
The Stone House
attn: Burma equipment
6602 Nick’s Rd
Mebane, NC 27302


edited to correct link

[EFerrari]

28. Thank you, emlev.

:kick:

[seemslikeadream]

19. ....

[EFerrari]

20. State Department email page. Use at your own risk:

http://contact-us.state.gov/cgi-bin/state.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php?p_sid=4WPfuZMi&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD0xMTEmcF9wcm9kcz0mcF9jYXRzPSZwX3B2PSZwX2N2PSZwX3NlYXJjaF90eXBlPWFuc3dlcnMuc2VhcmNoX25sJnBfcGFnZT0x

[northamericancitizen]

21. Kick & R .

[AikidoSoul]

25. I am sickened by this

Is there anything effective that can be done?

Thugs!:(

[emlev]

26. Please see suggestions up-thread. n/t

[emlev]

27. And please post additional ideas here!

There are the things we can do so that we feel like we're doing something.
And then there are the things we can do that might actually make a difference.
What do you think is in the second category?

[EFerrari]

29. This is difficult because tomorrow is Sunday

And so most anyone we can lobby is down until Monday.

Kicking for ideas.

[ellisonz]

30. Kick.

[seemslikeadream]

32. ...

[femrap]

34. K & R

OMG...the evil is overwhelming. There are no words.

[earth mom]

35. There are no words....

:cry:

[EFerrari]

36. KICK

[LeftishBrit]

39. Horrifying!

Thank you for all the info and suggestions for action, and for bringing this tragic and vital issue to the forefront here.

[applegrove]

40. Truly awful!

[lovuian]

41. A great sadness at man's inhumanity to man

is so obvious...

[rodeodance]

42. Lehrer News Hr showed some screnes of blood stained rooms in the monistaries

[Divine Discontent]

43. I pray to God for their families

and I pray for the evil murdering hoards who beat them to death and tossed their bodies like rag dolls, to be brought to justice.

I will sign all those things, and I will call my Senator (Bill Nelson, sigh), and hope action is taken quickly to punish these evil bastards, I don't care how big of a country they are - they need to be held accountable.

[Uncle Joe]

44. These thugs are a bunch of pathetic cowards, afraid

of empowering their own people.

Thanks for the thread emlev.

[McCamy Taylor]

45. 1000s march for Burma in London according to BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/burmese/news/story/2004/12/041201_sunday_evening.shtml

[McCamy Taylor]

46. More things to do, Protest Burmese Embassy in DC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVCmQeEgFWc

[NMMNG]

47. Horrifying.

:cry:

[Summer93]

48. Thanks for information

I wish they could hear our good thoughts for them.

[1776Forever]

49. Does anyone know about the BP Amoco Castrol oil influence on all this?

Just wondered if anyone thought that Britain might get involved because of the ownership in the oil from Burma?????

Found on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burmah_Oil_Company_Ltd.

In 2000, Burmah-Castrol (Castrol is a brand of industrial and automotive lubricants which is applied to a large range of oil products for most lubrication applications)was acquired by the then BP Amoco plc (now renamed BP plc).

****************
My prayers go out to the monks for their sacrifice to not be in vain.

O8)

[seemslikeadream]

53. kick