Burma Digest has posted a year-end review of major events and continuing events in Burma for 2006. They are also asking you to vote for The Personality of 2006, you can vote here.
It is a thorough list of everyone from Aung San Suu Kyi, to the 8888 students, to John Bolton, to Than Shwe. Student leaders Ko Mya Aye and Ko Jimmy. Journalist Ludu U Sein Win and U WIn Tin who was the Reporters Without Borders 2006 Laureate for Journalism. He continues to call for the unconditional release of all political prisoners from his Insein jail cell.
Nobel peace laureate and founder of the Mae Tao Clinic Dr. Cynthia Maung.
Min Ko Naing, popular dissident and founder of All Burma Federation of Student Unions. He was arrested after the uprising in 1988 and not released until late 2004. In September of 2006 he was arrested again without charges, along with Ko Ko Gyi, Min Zeya, Pyone Cho and Htay Kywe.
Charm Tong, an outspoken advocate for women’s rights and education in Burma. She was one of Time Asia’s Hero’s of Asia for 2005. In late 2005 she met with President Bush and by some is credited with helping open to door to allow Burmese refugees to settle in the U.S.
Sao Yawd Serk, Commander of SSA-S and Chairman of Restoration Council of Shan State and reportedly stands for Burmese ethnic solidarity and equality under a strong democracy.
And Su Su Nway, who spent nine months in prison for speaking out about forced labor practices in Burma, this is reportedly what is known as ‘defamation’. She had successfully sued village officials for the regime before being sentenced herself but was released mostly thanks to international pressure including demands from the ILO. She has received many awards internationally for her outspoken defense of human rights.
Who am I picking?
Any one of these names could stand out and symbolize the plight of the Burmese people, that's really what this list is all about. By that same logic Than Shwe's daughter could have made the list, after all she certainly gained the most media attention this year, especially on the internet and it is attention that blogs like Burma Digest, Burma Underground, Refugees Within and Freedom Bloc try to bring to the table to highlight the atrocities going on in Burma and to try to influence the winds of change or at least inform.
Though if I had to pick one I would say I am very inspired by Su Su Nway. Her spirit and bravery to stand up against the regime at the cost of everything is really a glimpse of what lies beneath in Burmese society. She is the symbol of how one small voice can speak for multitudes and how one action can bring international unity and that is in part how the quest for democracy in Burma continues.
