A group in facebook.com has been creating great discussions and posting recent information on happenings in Burma. I was able to get a message from the British Ambassador, Mark Canning Sat, 29th about 11am, in which he said that Rangoon was calm, lots of troops around and more arrests at the monasteries overnight. He also sounded hopeful that "there are some encouraging signs too that possibly, possibly, some progress might be possible." I am sure he cannot say more than that at this point, but it gives hope. We were also able to get through to Rangoon last night via ...   more »

Ed.: The following article was received in my email from Malaysia but there was no media source referenced. Elizabeth Wong also has photos and info on the demonstration.

Kuala Lumpur, 28 September 2007

This morning, more than three thousand Burmese protesters , most of them wearing red marched in the street of Kuala Lumpur . They walked from Ampang Park to the Burmese Embassy, 2 kilometers away. There they had a very organized peaceful demonstration facing the local Riot police who were guarding the Embassy. Then they proceeded to the Chinese Embassy and the Russian Embassy to hand over a memorandum.

The demonstration was a joint effort of nine Burmese Organization here.   more »

197,687 people have so far signed this petition calling on China and the UNSC to support the protesters in Burma. Please join them.

September 28, 2007

Dear All,

Kindly forgive the brevity and the lack of formatting of the following email. I am now sending this information out as we are now receiving it. As many of you are now aware phone lines have been cut, mobile networks have been disabled, and Internet access has also been disabled. Information, therefore, is now very difficult to obtain and confirm. I therefore am unable to confirm any of that which follows, but my sources are adamant that this is the truth:

Soldiers from LID #66 have turned their weapons against other SPDC soldiers and possibly police in North Okkalappa township in Rangoon and are defending the protesters. At present unsure how many soldiers involved. Some reports cite "heavy shooting" in the area.

Other unconfirmed reports have stated that soldiers from LID #33 in Mandalay have refused orders to act against protesters. Some reports claim that many soldiers remained in their barracks. More recent reports now maintain that soldiers from LID #99 now being sent there to confront them.

Reports of approx. 10,000+ protesters gathering around the Traders Hotel in Rangoon.

Reports of 10,000+ protesters gathering at San Pya Market in Rangoon.

Further reports of approx. 50,000 protestors gathering at the Thein Gyi Market in Rangoon.

According to Mizzima, an unknown number of soldiers from Central Command and South East Command are presently on their way to Rangoon to reinforce SPDC army troops.

Also according to Mizzima, an unknown number of aircraft have been scrambled from "Matehtilar" airbase - probably a reference to Meiktila in Mandalay Division.

According to one journalist, SPDC have turned water cannons against crowds at Sule Pagoda. The report maintains that the water contained some type of chemical. awaiting further information.


Please circulate this information as widely as as quickly as possible.

Regards,

Jason
Research Director
Human Rights Documentation Unit
National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma