Update on Burma and the Media Equipment Campaign
The Burma Media Project
is entering its 2nd phase and we need your help to make it a success.
The Burma Media Project arose last fall in response to the pro-democracy demonstrations happening in Burma and to the brutal military crackdown that followed. The program is an effort to get video equipment into the troubled country to help the people regain their voice on the international stage.With the generous support from people around the world, we were able to raise enough money to successfully complete the first phase of this exciting project.
Over $30,000 of video recording, editing and transmission equipment has been purchased, field-tested, and positioned to begin the second phase of the project: documenting the situation and transmitting the message to the world.
For the last 6 months, American members of the project have been based in Thailand building strategic relationships with leading activist monks, exiled student leaders, ethnic minorities, artists and scholars. This community of monastics that have taken the lead on the implementation of the project are extraordinarily tight knit, deeply committed and very secure. Those involved have spent untold hours perfecting the systems, training in them and planning carefully for their use.
We could not be better situated to begin the next phase. The strategy is refined. The people are trained. The equipment is in place. The timing is urgent.
The Burmese Situation
While footage of the brutal crackdown of pro-democracy leaders in Burma has not had much play in the mainstream news media as of late, the situation continues to be dangerous and oppressive for anyone suspected of being involved in democratic work. Burmese authorities continue the crackdown and persecution of anyone thought to have been involved in September’s monk-lead “Saffron Revolution” during which at least 100,000 people risked their lives and demonstrated against the government in the streets of Rangoon.
The recent devastation caused by cyclone Nargis has reminded the international community of the profound failings of the Burmese government to address the needs of its people. While government reports on the devastation continue to be grim, a ban on “unofficial news” has prohibited affected peoples’ voices from being heard by an international audience. According to the IMF, Burma spends only 0.5% of its GNP on health, 0.4% on education and yet a full 40% goes toward its military which, since the country has no outside threats, is used almost exclusively against its own citizens. The degree of the governments ineffectiveness in addressing their citizens’ needs during this time of crisis is of utmost importance in gaining international involvement in the worsening situation.
Instead of developing a truly comprehensive plan for the development and democratization of their country, the government continues to use their resources primarily to maintain their power and control over the country. Squads of government agents are still searching for people suspected of involvement in September’s protest and have even been found hunting down suspected activists in refugee camps in Thailand. Democracy leaders continue to be assassinated. New aggressive measures by the military government in recent weeks are motivated by their growing fear that a popular movement resisting the national constitutional referendum planned for May will thwart government’s attempts at achieving international legitimacy.
The new constitution is broadly regarded as fraudulent since it excluded the participation of many opposition groups including Burma’s largest opposition party, the National League for Democracy, most widely known as the party of detained elected president Daw Aung Saan Suu Kyi. The new constitution mandates that at least 25% of the seats in both houses of parliament be held by the military, requires 75% vote in both houses to amend the constitution- [which gives the military an effective veto because of the strong likelihood they will hold more than 25% of the seats], and forbids Aung Saan Suu Kyi from ever holding office. Even in the midst of the disaster created by cyclone Nargis, the Burmese military junta is insisting on moving forward with the referendum, except for the in the most severely hit places where an additional 2-weeks postponement has been made. In an area where nearly one million people may have lost their homes, this is yet another sign of the skewed priorities of the regime.
In spite of the recent heightened repression, the movement for democracy in Burma is growing in strength. Democratic activists are organizing nationwide opposition to the May 10th referendum. The “Vote NO” campaign is gathering strength across the country. Monks continue to respect the boycott against taking alms from or communicating with government officials. The chanting of the Metta Sutta [the Buddha’s discourse on loving-kindness] is spreading from the depths of the notorious Insein prison to prison and detention cells across the country. What happens in the weeks around the referendum prove to be a pivotal time in the history of Burma.
The Strategy and The Need
We know that in this day and age, it is very difficult to keep the world’s attention without live pictures to dramatize in our minds the realities that are being faced by oppressed people around the world.
In Burma, and more recently in Tibet, the public is astounded by the powerful use of force on monks and nuns who have committed deeply to a life of nonviolence and understanding. Under threat in these two countries is not only the possibility of democracy and self-determination but a sacred piece of the cultural and religious heritage of the planet.
The Burma Media Project is aimed at giving the Burmese people an outlet to share their stories, tell their experiences, and communicate more broadly about the nature of their situation and their desires for freedom. Only when this message gets out can the international community begin to apply informed pressure on the Burmese government, to make sure that the governments and corporations that support this regime are being held accountable for their actions, and to provide appropriate assistance for Burma’s many humanitarian needs.
Because the government has implemented extensive surveillance of and control over most standard lines of communication- airwaves, telephone and internet lines- the only way to get this other perspective out is through the use of satellite technology. While the benefit of using satellite equipment includes being free of government control or tracking, it is also quite expensive. To give our counterparts in Burma the fullest access to communication lines and the greatest discretion about what material to send out, we expect that the cost of transmission along with the costs of additional training and equipment will be $15,000 per month.
Our hope is to supply at least 6 months of secure funding to our partners to begin to do the real work of interviewing, investigating and transmitting what is gathered to the world outside Burma’s borders. A gift of $50 dollars will over the costs of three minutes of footage to be transmitted to the world. A donation of $150 will purchase 2 video cameras. This may not sound like a lot, but even three minutes of video footage has the potential to have a profound impact on the world.
As an example, below you can see our recent interview with U Pyinya Zawta, one of the leaders of the All-Burma Monks Alliance after he had escaped into Thailand as he explains the reasons for the demonstrations of the fall and the continued pro-democracy organizing going on in Burma.
The people of Burma had their hopes lit-up this fall with the prospect of the world paying attention to their plight. We who have had the privilege of working with these dedicated leaders know the courage and purity of heart with which they are trying to help their people. It is impossible to convey the depth of gratitude that they have for those who are supporting their efforts internationally.
The Burmese military regime is on unsteady ground following the September protests and now with their inability to properly address the needs of the cyclone-affected people. Your efforts during this time may help provide the pressure to leverage a dramatic change in the future governance and wellbeing of Burma.
Please continue to support this incredible work in any way that you can.
Go to www.stonecircles.org and click on the “donate now” button- don't forget to click the box marked for “Burmese video equipment’
Or send a check to stone circles at:
Stone circles
@ the Stone House
6602 Nicks Rd
Mebane, NC 27302
Please write “Burma Media Project” in the memo line.
100% of all donations are tax deductible and go directly to support the Burma Media Project. Please call Jesse at 919.304.5000 with any questions.
October 2007 Update
stone circles, in collaboration with a numer of concerned parties, has begun a project that will attempt to bring video and transmission equipment into Burma to help document and expose the continuing human rights abuses going on in that country. We will continue to post updates on the project as events unfold.
As of October 25th, stone circles and our friends have raised over $20,000 toward the cost of funding the Burmese video project. This has been almost entirely made up of gifts of less than $100. The out pouring of support has been amazing- with individuals and groups holding benefit concerts, tag sales and campus events to help raise the money.
These efforts have allowed us to purchase 2 satellite phones, 10 small digital video cameras, and the additional equipment necessary to make the project a success. The equipment is currently being tested by colleagues outside of Burma so that those who will be using it within the country will be able to be trained easily during the coming weeks.
We are still in need of a large sum of money to pay for the monthly charges associated with the satellite phone usage. While a deal is being worked out with the company to allow us to send as much possible data over the system at the lowest possible cost- it will likely still be another $70,000 for a year-long contract! Please consider donating or encouraging others to donate to this very important effort.
Keep posted during the next few weeks as we enter the first phase of the project. stone circles and our colleagues on the ground would like to send our deepest appreciation to all those who have helped support this project. We remain confident that this effort will have an impact toward the democratization of Burma and the accountability of the Burmese military regime.
10/2/07
If you haven't heard much about Burma in the news during the past few days, its because the Burmese military junta has successfully managed to cut most lines of popular communication with the outside world. This has enabled the regime to crack down on democracy activists under a veil of near darkness. Reports of horrendous violence on lay people and on the monastic community have confirmed the fears of the continued willingness of the regime to degrade, brutalize and murder their own citizens.
Making sure that the world can witness what is going on within Burma is one of the only means we have of keeping the activities of the government under check and bring power back into the hands of the Burmese people. There is a dire need to get video equipment and transmission equipment back into the country and into the hands of democracy activists so that the world can once again bring its attention to the needs of the people of Burma.
So far, close to $10,000 has been raised for this project. We have purchased eight "flip video" cameras which are very discrete, AA battery operated, tape-less cameras who data can be uploaded directly to a computer and then sent by satellite phone out to the world. We are also purchasing two satellite phones that will serve as the transmission equipment needed to get the footage out of the country. The cameras are approximately $100 each. The satellite phones are approximately $3,500 each.
Many people have already pledged their resources toward this endeavor. Please join them quickly so that we can open the widow back to Burma and hold the regime accountable for its actions.
The easiest and quickest way to support is to make an online contribution on our website homepage. Click on the "Donate Now" button and then be sure to check "yes" where it asks if this donation is designated for Burmese video equipment. Checks can also be sent via regular mail, made payable to "stone circles" with "Burmese video project" in the memo line.
For ongoing news and information – what little we can get – and more opportunities to get involved, the best sources are: