Fresh Violation-Burmese soldiers order to rape Karen women in Burma

New Year Presents- for civilians in Burma

A few days ago when 2008 arrived we greed each other to have a healthy live, peace and prosperity. Yes, because we want New Year bring us a better life, a good health and luck. However, it was not for the civilians in Burma. In late 2007, the Burmese military commanders ordered solders in Mutraw District, Karen State to torture and rape every girls and women on their way to the border. According to the news on January 28 posted at Kwekalu, a Karen online news website, confirmed, “Battalions’ commanders in Eastern part of Burma order soldiers to arrest and rape any girls they saw in that area”. The Karen Information Centre (KIC News) also confirmed this news and District Karen Women Group at the area warmed girls and women to avoid and run away if they knew that attack would happen. Actually, for many of us who watched John Rambo movie, we might visualize what was happening in the movie and was the location that described in the movie. Burmese military have been using torture, rape and violence as a weapon against Karen and other ethnic women at the rural area where the war took place and it was well documented by several human rights institutions. Lately we saw “License to rape” and “Shattering Silence” were among violence conducted by Burmese military against women in rural areas. It is an ongoing practice that happen so long military ruler is in power. Many of the observers might feel that Rambo, this time, a real one, to rescues Burma and bring back democracy and freedom for Burma civilians.

Rambo - He is back

John Rambo – He is back
(Action and violence for viewers, but for the sufferers, it is the reality)

After twenty yeas of his last Rambo movie about Vietnam War, Sylvester Stallone is coming back with his new Rambo movie, which is release on January 25, 2008. This time, it is about Karen people in Burma and their struggle for freedom and self-determination. On near by Thai-Burma border, the world’s longest-running civil war, the Burmese-Karen conflict, rages into it 60th years. After the Second World War, the Karen people had been fighting for self-determination, freedom and the reorganization of Karen State, however, their struggle was long and continues until today. Since Burmese military controlled media inside Burma and the conflict took place in the rural areas, this longest civil war is rarely covered by international media and little known by International communities. Burmese military are systematically attacking not only Karen fighters but also Karen villagers, killed, reaped women, girls, and torture them all. Human rights abuse, force labor and force relocation happens everyday since the war started. Ten of thousands of civilians sacrificed their live for freedom and democracy in Burma.

‘The situation in Burma, there has been a large civil war in the world and it’s been 60 years. So I thought if there is going to be another Rambo, let it be about something that actually exists. Though we are giving you an entertaining film, we’ll also be able to help some people who are facing life and death every day,” said Stallone.
The British newspaper, Daily Mail, quoted leading actor Sylvester Stallone as saying: “I witnessed the aftermath [in Burma]—survivors with legs cut off and all kinds of land mine injuries, maggot-infested wounds and ears cut off. I want people to feel the violence because that is what is really happening in Burma. Believe me, it's even worse than what we depict. "I felt that I had to live up to the responsibility of showing the world what is happening in Burma," he added. "People were dying there while we were making our movie."

It was true that after watching this movie by myself, I felt that it is a good opportunity now to show the world what Karen people are really suffering under the Burmese military rule. Most viewers might feel that it’s another good Rambo movie and enjoyable to watch, but for the Karen people, it is the reality and their suffering is happening here now in Karen State, Burma.

"Live for nothing or die for something" Rambo. "Freedom is for those who dare to fight" Gen. Saw Bo Mya.

If you are interested helping Karen people in Burma or in Canada, please write to ottawakaren@gmail.com or visit http://www.karencommunity.ca/ for more information.

Karen New Year Celebration Ottawa

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nkT_xGRUOdI&feature=related

you can visit www.karencommunity.ca for more information