Dear Friends of Burma
 

The Burmese American Democratic Alliance and the Buddhist Peace Fellowship invite you to join us as we stand with Burma on Friday, May 9, 2008 from 4-8pm at the SF Federal Building at 450 Golden Gate Ave. At this vigil, there will be speakers, music, meditation and prayers.
 

Once again Burma needs us in the aftermath of death and disaster that Cyclone Nargis left in its wake. Compounding the suffering of 46 years of military rule, the cyclone has left a devastating legacy in this already impoverished country.
 

The amount of energy and expense the junta has spent over these last months suppressing opposition to a forced referendum and hunting down and imprisoning dissidents, stands in sharp contrast to their failure to give timely warning to the delta’s population — when the likely path of the storm was evident to meteorologists all across South Asia.  It stands in contrast to the government’s slow and deadly response to the storm itself, and to the obstacles it places to the receipt and distribution of disaster relief funds and material.

As a friend of Burma and a leader in the community, we ask you to join this vigil, which has three purposes:

1.      To send our prayers and strength to the Burmese people as they dig out from this disaster, to collect funds for relief,  and to keep the spotlight on the junta to ensure that relief agencies and monies are allowed into Burma.

2.      To push for the full passing of the Burma Democracy Promotion Act, 2007 bill. Both Houses of Congress unanimously passed this bill months ago and it is now stalled in conference working out the differences between House and Senate versions.

3.      To ensure that the junta will indefinitely postpone the constitutional referendum until such a time as there can be a full and open vote — internationally monitored by respected parties acceptable to all sides.

In the aftermath of the storm, the ever-present military, which immediately cracked down on peaceful monk-led protests during the Saffron Revolution last fall, was nowhere to be found. More than 25,000 deaths are reported, tens of thousands missing, and hundreds of thousands are without food, shelter and water. Some say the death toll could rise to as high as 100,000. The junta says the election will be held in most of Burma, but the hardest hit areas will vote at a later date.

Please join us stand with the people of Burma. Call me with any questions at the numbers below. Thank you so much for your support of Burma. We look forward to seeing you Friday.
 
Sincerely,
Nyunt Than
President.
Burmese American Democratic Alliance 510-220-1323

Margaret Howe
Buddhist Peace Fellowship
707-360-8452