The members of the Burmese community of Ithaca -- some 50+ people strong, and including Han Lin and Aung Lin of IC's Physical Plant, May Lin '05, Thuya Lun '07, Tayza Yeelin '08, and their family -- cordially invite you to a celebration on Saturday, August 5, 2006, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Women's Community Building, 100 N. Seneca Street.
Special guest will be Burmese Prime Minister in Exile Dr. Sein Win. He, Ithaca Mayor Carolyn Peterson, and Congressman Maurice Hinchey's representative will speak. The program also includes dance and music of Burma, informational videos and presentations, and delicious homemade food made by our Burmese neighbors. IC staff member Maura Stephens will cohost the day's events.
Last month Ithaca became the first city in the world to pass a resolution naming August 8 permanently "Burmese Democracy Day" in our city. This date was chosen to commemorate the fateful day in Burmese history -- August 8, 1988, or 8-8-88 -- when the people rose up around the country in peaceful protest against the dictatorship that held them down. That day thousands died, and many thousands more were forced into exile. But the struggle continues for freedom and democracy.
Today we have more than 50 Burmese refugees living in our community, and they and their compatriots within Burma and scattered around the world are looking at Ithaca as a beacon of hope. Ithaca's action is already helping to bring international attention to the dire situation in Burma. The Burmese people, and their duly elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, have been kept down too long. It is time for the world community to become involved.
This week the U.S. government is pressuring the United Nations to take action against the brutal military regime of Burma; the UN Security Council has been balking at discussing Burma at all (Russia and China do not want to draw attention to their own human rights failures by censuring another human rights violator). But international pressure could change that. The Ithaca Common Council showed that it wants to raise awareness by passing its resolution. Our Burmese community is in close touch with others around the world and around the USA.
Saturday's event will be colorful; it will be a tremendous honor to have Prime Minister Sein Win visit us. We are sure that eventually he will take his rightful place alongside his cousin, Aung San Suu Kyi, as the prime minister and president in residence in Yangon (formerly Rangoon, the capital of Burma).
Please join us for music, dance, information, and food. We hope to see you there!
Contact Maura Stephens, 274-3829; mstephens@ithaca.edu for more information.
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20060802174302926