American defies junta with lake swim to Suu Kyi - The Independent »
Posted By gamahuche 6 months, 3 weeks ago in NewsThe Burmese junta is questioning an American citizen who swam across a lake to the waterside house of Aung San Suu Kyi, spent two days at the home of the detained opposition leader and was then captured as he tried to escape by swimming back under cover of darkness.
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gamahuche
"I would rather be a square peg than fit in a pigeon hole" -
an essay which won me the "Lamb Essay Prize" at the Religious ...
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gamahuche6 months, 3 weeks ago
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Its too long since news came my way about Aung San Suu Kyi. The Burmese authorities have successfully kept her isolated for far too long. At the very least this seemingly rash and reckless act at the very least gives us a valuable reminder of ASSK's plight.
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hyperbola6 months, 2 weeks ago
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Admirable, but we shouldn't forget that there are many such heros. Whether they get much coverage in our corporate media depends on whether it fits in well with the state propaganda of the moment. At least the Burmese didn't kill this guy.
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Our Place in the World: Still no justice for Rachel Corrie
Tom Hurndall, a 22-year-old British peace activist, died last week in a London hospital. He was shot in the head by Israeli sniper fire nine months ago while shepherding Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip out of the line of fire. He had been in a coma since his injury. Hours before Hurndall died, the soldier who shot him was charged with aggravated assault. The charge is now likely to be revised to manslaughter or murder; British police are participating in an official investigation of his death.
Rachel Corrie from Olympia was crushed to death by an Israeli military bulldozer in the Rafah refugee camp about a month before Hurndall was shot there. Like Hurndall, Corrie was a volunteer with the Palestinian-led International Solidarity Movement to End the Occupation of Palestine (ISM). Like Hurndall, she was killed by an identifiable Israeli soldier. As in Hurndall's case, the Israeli government initially released a report on Corrie's killing, stating that nobody connected with the Israeli military was culpable and that further investigation was not required.
So, why has Hurndall's killer been charged when nothing has happened to Corrie's killer? ....
http://www.seattlepi.com/opinion/157721_ourplace23... -
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gamahuche6 months, 3 weeks ago
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Considering that she has had virtually no opportunity to talk with anyone I should imagine that she had one heck of a lot to tell him - and no question in my mind that she wouldn't have talked to him.
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And yes, a crazy stunt indeed!
But is one person deciding to take such a risk even a fraction as crazy as the majority of military operations - wherever they may be taking place?
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gamahuche6 months, 3 weeks ago
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FTA:
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Jailed or detained under house arrest for 13 of the past 19 years, Ms Suu Kyi's current term of detention dates from May 2003. This week it was revealed that an appeal to Burma's military rulers to release her – her term of detention should technically end later this month – had failed.
During that time, her only visits have been occasional opportunities to meet members of her National League for Democracy (NLD), her doctor, lawyer and UN envoys. Foreign diplomats were permitted to see her at one stage but that was stopped several years ago.
In such circumstances, it might be assumed that the 63-year-old, who lives with two maids, would have had much to talk about during the two days that the visitor apparently stayed at her house.
Richard Mei, a spokesman for the US embassy, which is close to the house, said officials had requested a consular visit with the mystery swimmer but that permission had not yet been granted.
"We don't know a lot more than the story that's out there," he said. "They will tell us when it's OK to see him."
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Its going to be very interesting to see how this story continues and how the US will play it. -
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flyonthewallzz6 months, 3 weeks ago
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http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14326
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"The US first lady Laura Bush on Thursday again urged the Burmese military junta to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners."
I think it is fair to give credit where it is due, and Laura Bush was one of the more important noisemakers bringing Daw (aunt) Aung San Suu Kyi's story out.
I learned about her when the Tsunami hit.
I confess to holding a bit of conflicted thoughts regarding her and that Tsunami.
I wish Laura had a better screaming voice. -
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gamahuche6 months, 2 weeks ago
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Two interesting follow-ups - I tried posting both links on one msg.. :(
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First her denial that she had had any contact with the "unwanted" visitor - which would seem to be inconclusive since she would be obliged to maintain that position:
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/267929,aun... -
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gamahuche6 months, 2 weeks ago
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Additionally a medical report and the news that Aung San Suu Kyi's doctor had been detained since Thursday after visiting the house to carry out a regular medical check-up on the 63-year-old pro-democracy leader, but he did not know why.
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http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM... -
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TheNewsseeker6 months, 2 weeks ago
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This was quite a courageous deed to risk his life to meet an arrested opposition leader! The only "good thing" about regimes like in Myanmar is that there are always people, who are free enough to act against all odds and don´t obey blindly!
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