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Uncle Leo's brief biography & memor (r)



Subject: Re: Uncle Leo's brief biography & memorial online!

At 02:23 AM 6/25/96, you wrote:
>From: Khin Ni Ni Thein <nin@xxxxxx>
>Subject: Uncle Leo's brief biography & memorial online!
>
>Dear Burma Net, 
>
>Please join me to honour "Uncle Leo's memorial" online.
>
>Uncle Leo refused to leave Burma and he chose the path that eventually led
>to his death. Because he truely loved his country and its people. It was 
>more open towards the end of his life his dislike for tyranny and 
>injustice. ***He really believed that he would see a change for the better 
>in Burma and dispite his nearest and dearest people's warnings which he 
>ignored he chose to remain in Burma. He always considered it to be his 
>country. ***
>
>It is interesting to find out that he was arrested and some time later 
>his house was searched. He had a portable phone and a spare fax machine 
>which he has had for many years. For this he was charged and sentenced. 
>Reliable sources maintain his incaraction was for political reasons as he 
>was close to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and his arrest was a form of 
>intimidation for her.
>
>Here I quote the words of his dearest person, he said:
>"Human rights is just a word and democracy is a dream but a large
>river begins with a small drop of rain. This is a struggle of right 
>against wrong and as history has shown eventually right and goodness 
>always wins."
>
>YES!!! RIGHT AND GOODNESS ALWAYS WIN !!!
>
>Fight for democracy is stil on.......................................
>
>	After reading above text, could you please stop reading it and 
>	make a pause, 2 minutes, keep silence, pray for "Uncle Leo" 
>	mentally whatever language you use, whatever religion you hold 
>	or no religion you hold. Please send your name back to me 
>	saying that "I pray for Uncle Leo".
>	We honour "Uncle Leo".
>
>Thank you very much in advance.
>
>With metta and solidarity,
>Ni Ni
>.......................................................................
>
>              "Biography of Mr. James Leander Nichols"
>
>
>
>James Leander Nichols			Born: 8/6/31 in Rangoon Burma
>					Died: 22/6/96 in Rangoon Burma
>
>Better known as Uncle Leo he was the son of George Alexander Nichols, a
>Greek descendent, who owned a stevedoring shipping company, Nichols & Sons
>Ltd. in Rangoon. As the Nichols' were pro-British, when the Japanese invaded
>Burma during the second World War the family had no choice but to walk out
>of Burma leaving their wealth behind them. Uncle Leo's father died while on
>the long treck to India.
>
>Uncle Leo went to boarding school in the hills of Darjeeling, India.
>
>After the war the family returned to Burma where Uncle Leo was the third
>generation Nichols to be working with the third generation Scandinavian ship
>owners. He worked with his Uncle Jimmy Gray, manager of the company and his
>brother Alexander, now deceased.
>
>Married to his current wife Felicity in 1951, Uncle Leo took a position with
>United Liner Agencies as their General manager in Rangoon. Felicity and
>Uncle Leo have five children, William, David, Celia and Lorna residing with
>their mother in Australia and Aileen in the United States. When Ne Win came
>to power in 1962 the company was nationalised and Uncle Leo had once again
>lost security.
>
>Soon after he was appointed as Honorary Consul General for Norway, Sweden,
>Denmark, Finland and Switzerland. Uncle was forced to give up the position
>in 1981 when a close colleague acting on behalf of the government of Burma
>was accused of corruption. Uncle was taken in for questioning for three days
>while his colleague was imprisoned for many years. Uncle gave up his post,
>however he continued to work representing the governments in an unofficial
>capacity.
>
>During his life he spent much of his spare time working and donating to the
>sick, frail, old and young. He dedicated the last decades of his life to
>helping those people less fortunate and weaker than he. Working through the
>Roman Catholic Churches in Burma, Uncle Leo supported thousands of orphans
>and ensured that they had the best possible opportunity to make a life for
>themselves. They all loved him dearly as did all people from all corners of
>the globe who had the honour of meeting him in his diplomatic capacity.
>
>While Uncle Leo was not frantically political he had a dream for his
>country. Godfather of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, he was her faithful and devoted
>friend. Through her he could see hope for his country and he lusted the
>freedom her determination will one day bring the people of Burma.
>
>Uncle Leo died at the hands of the military dictatorship of Burma. Arrested
>in May 1996 for, according to the military," operating and illegal fax
>machine", it is believed his three year sentence was in reality punishment
>for loving and helping Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
>
>After serving two and a half months of his three year prison term Uncle Leo
>died on the 22nd. June 1996 at 11 A.M. at the Rangoon General Hospital. It
>is believed that he was moved from the prison hospital to RGH just one hour
>before his death. A military conducted autopsy, without independent
>monitoring, found that Uncle Leo had died from a brain haemorrhage.
>
>The Funeral, which was conducted by the military, was held at Saw Bwa Gyi
>Christian Cemetery. While friends and family did attend it is understood
>that the military warned them not to.
>
>At 2.00 P.M.  on the 23rd. of June 1996, Uncle Leo was laid to rest. He will
>be remembered as one of the great fathers of Burma and a man who's passion
>for his country and his people exceeded all else.
>
>There will be a memorial service on the 30th. of  June in Rangoon provided
>permission is obtained from the authorities.
>               ---------------END TEXT---------------
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>
>
>It's a good essay Ni Ni.
uthaung