Jun 5, 2008 (DVB), Thai artists and a Burmese organisation came together to hold an art auction and concert on Sukhumvit Soi 52 in Bangkok on Wednesday to raise funds for Burma's cyclone victims.

The event was jointly organised by four Thai art NGOs and Grassroots Human Rights Education, a Burmese organisation based in Thailand's Phan-nga province.

"As well as raising funds for those who affected by the cyclone, we wanted the Thai people to learn more about the real situation inside Burma and why more and more Burmese migrant workers keep coming to Thailand," said Htoo Chit, GHRE's director.

Running from 2pm to 8pm, the fundraiser included an auction of paintings by a number of famous Thai artists, discussions on the political and human right situations in Burma, performances by popular Thai singers such as Karawan and Titshiro, and dancing by children from the GHRE school.

Cyclone Nargis struck Burma over a month ago but the military regime has yet to carry out effective aid distribution and international relief organisations are still facing obstructions from the authorities.

Reporting by Naw Say Phaw