DPDM Global: A Burmese-run social enterprise in the UK
Thuta Khin has spent the last eight years living in London. She studied business and then launched a socially responsible company with her friend. She designs socks, shirts, beanies and tote bags to raise funds to donate to homeless Brits. Doh Pyay Doh Myay (DPDM) Global is DVB’s travel program, exploring diversity worldwide. Every week Burmese diaspora on another continent are given a voice. #တို့ပြည်တို့မြေ #ကနေဒါ #Roadshow #unitedkingdom #OverseasBurmese #DVBTV DVB TV – 22.11.2022 Watch more DPDM: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM…
DVB English News – https://english.dvb.no
Follow DVB English on Facebook – https://fb.com/dvb-english-news-12322…
Follow DVB English on Twitter – https://twitter.com/dvb_english
Listen to DPDM Global Podcast, available to stream or download on:
Anchor: https://anchor.fm/dvb-dpdm Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/dpdm-global
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nt3DA8…
InforMM: https://play.google.com/store/apps/de…
Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0…
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast…
About DVB
The DVB (Democratic Voice of Burma) is a non-profit Burmese media organization committed to independent and responsible journalism. The DVB Foundation is registered in Oslo, Norway since 1992.
Burmese-Canadians in British Columbia raise funds for Burma by selling recyclables
By Peter Aung
On a briskly cold Sunday morning in November Min Min, Ye Htut and Shan Ma collect bottles and cans to raise funds for Burma, 11,748 kms (7,300 miles) away from their homes in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Hundreds of Burmese families now live in Surrey, which is located in the Metro Vancouver area. Min Min, Ko Ye and Shan Ma have been living in Canada for over a decade now.
Since last year’s military coup in Burma, the three have spent weekends and public holidays working to raise funds to support the Spring Revolution. This is the uprising against a return to military rule in Burma. Ye Htut and Shan Ma go out, rain or shine, braving the cold weather in Canada to collect cans and bottles. They return to Shan Ma’s garage, where they begin to organize everything they’ve collected on their excursions outdoors. They separate the cans and bottles before heading to the depot, where they can receive money back for recycling.
They receive 10 cents CAD per bottle. Considering they donate $500 CAD per month. This means they collect, organize and sell hundreds, possibly thousands, of bottles and cans every month. “We can donate to Chin State or Sagaing [Region]. We donate to them as soon as we get money. We already donated $2,000 dollars in five months,” said Min Min. “We wanted to find more funds for them,” added Min Min.
“First, we donated money from our salaries. And then we held fundraising events to donate. We also raise money by selling garbage like cans and bottles so we can donate every month,” said Ye Htut. “When we started doing this our community noticed and they wanted help to collect more. Actually, they are people who don’t collect cans or bottles but now they collect for us. Even they talk to restaurants they know and let us collect,” added Ye Htut.
The three named their fundraising activities “Buu Kon Sal Pyar Pyi Thu Arr.” This means 10 cent cans is the citizen’s strength. Every Sunday, no matter how cold it is outside, Shan Ma goes outside to collect cans and bottles. “I don’t have any income now. But I collect cans and bottles which are garbage to other people. I used to donate money from my salary but now I have no income. So, I ask for help to collect bottles,” said Shan Ma.
DVB Reads: Mayco Naing on “Burma Spring: Poetry & Photography in Resistance” (Book Launch)
Burmese artist Mayco Naing discusses co-editing “Burma Spring: Poetry & Photography in Resistance.” The book features 14 poets and seven photographers from Burma, either in exile, imprisoned, or killed since the 2021 military coup. This episode contains Mayco Naing reciting a poem from a Rohingya poet in Burmese:
An Ox for a wad of paan
Thida Shania
What does this air suffer from?
My lungs suffocate when I breathe.
Why does the sun look so desolate?
There is twilight without dawn.
How can I satiate hunger?
An ox swapped for a wad of paan.
Where can I hide my body?
Corpses, everywhere in every house.
How can I die in my land?
My kin have been buried alive.
How can I cross the border?
Rivers bleed human blood.
What happened to the Queen of Justice?
I search for her everywhere–
nowhere do I find her.
DVB Reads (Podcast) is on-demand to stream or download on listening apps: SoundCloud, Anchor FM, TuneIn Radio, Amazon Music, Audible, Stitcher, Spotify, Apple & Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0…
IFJ Report: Japanese video journalist released amid prisoner amnesty in Burma
Myanmar’s military junta announced the release of Japanese documentary filmmaker, Toru Kubota, and three other foreign nationals on November 17, as part of an amnesty of 5,774 political prisoners. The International Federation of Journalists condemns the junta’s ongoing flagrant violations of human rights and calls for all political prisoners jailed by illegitimate military courts to be released immediately.
The junta announced the prisoner amnesty under Myanmar’s Code of Criminal Procedure, Section 401, Sub-Section (1), with the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) confirming the release of 53 identified prisoners by the evening of November 17.
The released included foreign nationals Toru Kubota, Australian economic advisor Sean Turnell, former British diplomat Vicky Bowman and American Kyaw Htay Oo. Kubota returned to Japan on a commercial flight on November 18.
Kubota, who has contributed to international media outlets including the BBC, Al-Jazeera and Vice Japan, was arrested on July 30 while covering an anti-junta protest in Yangon. The filmmaker was sentenced to 10 years in jail for two charges on October 6, found guilty of violating Myanmar’s electronic transactions law, with a charge of seven years in prison, as well as a further three for incitement.
Independent media outlet, Myanmar Now, said the release of the prisoners was announced to mark Myanmar’s National Day. According to analysts, the amnesty may be in response to increased pressure from government leaders at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit from November 10-13, who criticised the military junta’s lack of progress on the bloc’s Five Point Consensus peace plan agreed in 2021.
The mass release comes as the military continues to attack unarmed civilian targets, including schools, churches, hospitals, and festivals, amid the ongoing nationwide civil war. The previous day, on November 16, three Burmese citizens were killed and four injured as a shell exploded in Chaung Tu Village, Rakhine State. Shelling in Maungdaw Township’s Gyake Chuang Village the same day also killed 11 local civilians and injured 24 others.
The IFJ’s report, The Revolution Will Not Be Broadcast – Myanmar: IFJ Situation Report 2022, highlights the inadequacy of global action, including ASEAN’s Five Point Consensus, to reject the junta and restrict the suppression and brutal campaign of aggression against Myanmar’s citizens. As of the report’s release on November 2, 59 journalists and media workers were incarcerated by the junta in Myanmar.
The IFJ said: “The release of video journalist Toru Kubota and other political prisoners is a distraction to legitimise illegal coup leaders and divert attention from the ongoing human rights atrocities being committed across Myanmar. The junta must release the thousands more political prisoners, including over 50 journalists, sentenced through sham military courts under draconian legislation. The IFJ calls on the international community to increase pressure on Myanmar’s military junta to guarantee the safety of all Burmese citizens and call for a return to democracy in the war-torn country.”
For further information contact IFJ Asia – Pacific on [email protected]
The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 140 countries
Twitter: @ifjasiapacific, on Facebook: IFJAsiaPacific and Instagram
Diaspora communities in Canada and Australia stage anti-military junta rallies
FROM THE DVB NEWSROOM
Burma’s diaspora communities in Canada and Australia held rallies over the weekend to raise awareness about the junta’s brutal war against the people of Burma. Burmese model and Miss Grand International Myanmar 2020 winner, Han Lay, attended and spoke at the protest in Toronto, Canada on Nov. 19. The Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) and National Unity Government (NUG) Support Group in Queensland, Australia held a protest in Brisbane on Nov. 19. Those in attendance lit candles and prayed for all civilians killed since the 2021 military coup.
The National Unity Government (NUG) unveiled its Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in the U.S. capital of Washington, DC. Burma’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations, U Kyaw Moe Tun, joined the NUG Communications, Information and Technology Minister, U Htin Lin Aung, and Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, U Moe Zaw Oo, at the new Ministry of Foreign Affairs office on Nov. 18. The NUG has opened diplomatic offices in the U.K., Australia, Czechia (also known as Czech Republic), Japan, and South Korea.
The UN General Assembly approved a draft resolution titled the “Situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar.” The draft resolution was confirmed by all members at the 3rd committee meeting of 77th UN General Assembly held on Nov. 17. It called for the Burma Army to halt all violence against ethnic nationalities and for the junta to be held accountable for the crimes it is committing against the people of Burma.
News by Region
KACHIN—Almost all gas stations in Hpakant have closed due to the lack of fuel and some stations are only selling 92 octane for K22,000 [$10.50 USD] per gallon. “They restricted cargo and fuel trucks that supplied goods to the town. We are facing shortages of food and basic commodities. Because of those restrictions, legitimate jade mining companies are afraid to operate normally and have caused hardship to people who rely on mining for living,” a local told DVB. Internet services in Hpakant have been cut off for more than a year. | BURMESE
A Burma Army squadron commander was reported killed at a hotel on Hpakant-Lonekin road in Lonekin village tract of Hpakant Township on Nov. 19. “The injured one is not able to survive,” hotel staff told DVB. The attackers wore masks and drove into the hotel with a Toyota surf vehicle, according to witnesses.
KAREN—Four villagers were killed when a Border Guard Force (BGF) opened fire on Mikayin village in Hpa-An Township on Nov. 17. “Three, including a young girl, were killed instantly and another died at the hospital due to blood loss,” a local said. DVB is still trying to confirm which BGF is responsible for the attack. Locals in Mon and Karen states are concerned about the outbreak of potential clashes due to the increasing Burma Army presence in the regions.
MANDALAY—A man was killed in an explosion near Mya Taung monastery, located between 35, 85th and 86th roads in Maha Aung Myay Township, on Nov. 17. “The sound of the explosion was very loud and even the ground shook,” a resident told DVB. Soldiers, and people dressed in civilian clothes with weapons, blocked off the area and cursed at local residents. Another explosion occurred near a cemetery in Bagan Tat village of Patheingyi township on Nov. 17. A member of the village administration was injured.
A member of the ward administration was shot dead in Mahaaungmyae Township on Nov. 19. The Generation Z Power (GZP Mandalay) claimed to have carried out the attack. The Burma army arrested at least six locals, accusing them of being involved.
SHAN—Smuggling of “all types of wood” is occurring in the forest of Pyin Oo Lwin Township and Naung Hkio Township, a local told DVB. It has been reported that valuable wood, including teak, has been smuggled out of the forest. Reports of illegal mining and logging have increased since the coup.
TANINTHARYI—Myeik District People’s Defense Force (PDF) announced on Nov. 17 that its two section commanders were killed. “There was an accident with artillery when our comrades fired shells at the camp,” a spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that the PDF is “extremely sad” over the deaths and that they will honor “comrades that risk their lives.”
Anti-military protesters in Launglon town were shot at by pro-military thugs on Nov. 19. “We, four people, were shot. After that, the military vehicle came out from the police station and chased us.” The protesters reportedly evaded arrest.
YANGON—A village administrator was killed in Yoe Kyi village, Kayan Township on Nov. 18. “It was around seven rounds of shots and he was killed at the place,” the source said. The victim was reported to be a member of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). The security forces blocked the village and checked residents following the murder.
A man was killed on 38th Street in Kyauktada township on Nov. 18. “He was robbed and stabbed. The robber was not able to loot the phone and money because the people came around,” a local told DVB. Seven people have been killed and four have been injured in attacks so far this month in Yangon.
