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response to attack on H.A.G., by T.
- Subject: response to attack on H.A.G., by T.
- From: pthomas2@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 01 Oct 1998 19:18:00
To
Than Win (Htoo Gyi) or whoever you may be:
I am writing this letter with outrage because a true leader was falsely
attacked by your immature self who doesn't know what Ko Htun Aung Gyaw
is doing for our country and for us. I am one of the active member of
Civil Society for Burma lead by Ko Htun. We joined CSB because we trust
this man who leads our organization. He is the one who worked against
the BSPP in 1970s. He is the one who received life sentenced
imprisonment and spent five years of his youthful life in the prison.
He was the one who led Freedom Fighters of Burma in 1988. He was the
one who led ABSDF with much effort, and worked hard for the independent
student organization which was facing many difficulties. Under Ko
Htun's leadership, ABSDF remained united. He never abused his power,
never misused money, and never unlawfully got invovled with women. At
the ABSDF's third conference, Ko Htun spending and accounting were
investigated by Ko Aung Than (Known as moustache Aung Than). Ko Aung
Than remarked that Ko Htun was very clean. Ko Htun never handles money
donated from people to CSB. CSB has a finance secretary. CSB receives
membership fees from people who join CSB. The monthly fee is US 10
dollars. Many Burmese have joined CSB because they trust Ko Htun. Is
that a crime? CSB never wrote stories for asylum seekers. CSB does
give recommendation letters to CSB members who apply for asylum. The
recommendation letter is very simple, it says that the person is a
member of CSB, that's it. There are no fake recommendations from CSB.
We have many members, but not quite 200 in CSB. Some are US citizens,
some are asylum seekers and the majority are green card holders. You
accusation of giving 200 recommendation letters is groundless and
irrational since we don't have 200 members yet, but we smile when we
read that statement since we do expect have 200 very soon. There are
several other organizations in NY who support Burmese with their
recommendation letters in applying for asylum. We feel that they are
also helping people. Why didn't you say anything about them? How do you
know Ko Htun is making a lot of money? He never touches the money and
CSB has its own bank account. All the money has been kept in the bank
under the finance committee. All spending has been recorded
systemically. Do you know CSB donated US 1600 dollars to the Thai-
Burma border, when the refugee camps were forcibly moved by the Thai
authorities. Do you know CSB has been rented rooms for former ABSDF
members who needed shelter in BKK and help them to resettle in the US
and Canada. Do you know our members donated some money to the All Burma
Young Monks Union (ABYMU) several times? All CSB funds goes to those
places. Closely, I work with Ko Htun and I admired him most for his
caring for our members and those left behind in the jungle.
Do you think, people came out from Burma who were holding Burmese
passports are your enemies? If not, why are you angry with them. Why
do you think they all are opportunists? Do you think you are the only
one who loves Burma? SLORC/SPDC claimed that they (Army) sweat their
blood and sacrifice their life for the country, that they are the only
ones who really love Burma. Because of this, they think they have a
right to maintain political power. You are following the same
mentality. If you really participated in 1988 and thought that you
deserve the opportunity and benefit to look down on others and promote
yourself, I will definitely say that you are a true opportunist. We
never thought that we deserved privilege. We did it because we want
justice, not personal benefit. If you want to help Burma, you need to
be mature. Think about it deeply. We will help and organize all
Burmese who resettle as refugees or as visitors, if they need help. We
do not need to show off ourselves as true activists and discriminate
against those holding Burmese passports, and accuse them as
opportunists. We need to organize them because they are Burmese. If
you do not want to help the Burmese in the USA, how do you organize the
whole nation. We do not need to segregate those who are from the
border, from those who are holding a passport. Do you know Zarni? He
flew from Burma and was holding a Burmese passport. He actively
participate in politics and he formed Free Burma Coalition (FBC). He
applied for asylum and got it. He also wrote recommendation letters to
those who participated in his FBC. Do you think that he is not worthy
of it? Do you disagree with those who gave him an asylum status? If a
passive person of yesterday becomes an activist today, we will give our
helping hand to him/her. That is our stand. No matter what happened in
the past. If yesterday an activist, but today he/she abandons our
cause, we will cut off the link with him/her, like Mya Mya Win and Win
Naing. It is our stand and you need to know about it. We are building
our grass root foundation and CSB membership is growing every day. Are
you jealous of Ko Htun and CSB's success? Spell it out if you dare to.
Show your true identity. Are you from NYC? Or somewhere else in the US.
We thank you because your groundless accusations have made our CSB well
known as a clean and helpful organization.
Tin Win Thein
New York Chapter
Civil Society for Burma
tin@xxxxxxxxxxx
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