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a contribution on London Thingyan.
- Subject: a contribution on London Thingyan.
- From: omtun@xxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 15 Apr 1996 16:22:00
Dear Editor,
I would be most grateful if you could include the following
item in the reg.burma conference.
Oung Myint Tun (omtun@xxxxxxxxxx)
A POST CARD FROM LONDON.
(BY OUNG MYINT TUN)
A few hundred Burmese democracy lovers, along
with several supporters from the international community,
gathered to bid farewell to the old year and welcome
in the BURMESE NEW YEAR last Sunday in London
at a joyous and inspiring ceremony sponsored by
U Uttara, a Burmese Buddhist monk, who escaped to
Thailand (in 1989) and then to London (in 1992),
from Taungyi (Shan State) where he had been pursued
by the military for his leading part in the 1988 nationwide
democracy movement in the Shan State, as the Secretary of
the Young Buddhist Monks Association ( Rahan-pyo Ah Phwe ).
IN 1993, he set up a Buddhist monastry in London. Ever since,
his monastry has become a focal point not just for practicing
Buddhism but also for campaigning for the restoration of
democracy in Burma.
The Thingyan celebration took place in a huge hall rented by
U Uttara, and was an elegant blend of religious rites and cultural
sights being reInforced with culinary bites.
The ceremony began with Buddhist precepts followed by the
offering of a wide variety of tasty dishes and delicacies which
were brought to the event by Burmese residents in the U.K.
( who formed the majority in the crowd ), and by friends
and supporters of the Burmese cause, who are British, Chinese,
Nepalese, SRI LANKAN and Bengali. After providing appetising
food for the spirit and the tummies, delightful food for the
eyes and ears of the crowd was provided by young Burmese
performing Burmese dances and songs.
The occasion also provided delicious food to satisfy the exquisite
political taste of the Burmese and British democracy campaigners
in the U.K., by giving them the opportunity to do briefings and
de-briefings and to strategise for future democracy campaigns
in THE U.K.