Burma VJ, Aung San Su Kyi, and ASEAN

Monday night at the Bear Tooth we saw Burma JV - a movie about a handful of Burmese video journalists (VJ) who took it on themselves to document what was happening in Burma using video cameras. So, when the monks began a demonstration in 2007, the group had contacts outside of Burma and was ready to send their video images of the demonstration and the government crackdown to the world via internet and satellite phones. For this blogger who sometimes dabbles with video reporting, this was an inspiring film. This is what journalism in the extreme is all about - informing the world and your fellow citizens what is really happening. They all did this at great personal risk. It's a compelling movie mostly narrated by one of the journalists who had to flee to Thailand because the government had clearly seen him filming at one of the demonstrations. You see the actual footage and his phone communications with his colleagues still in Burma. The Anchorage showing was sponsored in part by the Alaska Immigration Justice Project
which gives legal support to immigrants, including some Burmese. The movie helps show the sort of political oppression that many refugees in Anchorage are fleeing and why the AIJP's work is important.



I have a friend who doesn't like to go see political movies or other movies that have depressing scenes. Movies, for him, should entertainment and uplifting. I like genuinely good uplifting movies too. But they are far more than that. Well made movies are the most compelling way to learn connect emotionally to what is happening around the world. They can, of course, be used to mislead as well, so video literacy is an important skill that needs to be taught along with reading.

Then we got the word that Aung Sang Su Kyi was sentenced to 18 more months of house arrest. Click here for her Nobel Prize bio.

Now we see that even Burma's ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) neighbors are putting on pressure over Aung San Su Kyi's sentence. A post at ThaiVisa.com by John LeFevre reports:

Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anifah Aman said: "We were hoping that the junta will release her unconditionally and will hold an election to enable Suu Kyi and other political detainees to participate in that election.”

Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo said: "They don't want her to be out before the election."

India refrained from denouncing the outcome, but foreign ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said New Delhi, "has emphasised to the government of Burma the need to expedite the political reform and national reconciliation process".

Locally, Thailand, as the revolving head of Asean, issued a statement saying it was with "deep disappointment" it had heard of Suu Kyi’s sentence.

The statement, issued by the Thai Foreign Ministry further said the Chair of Asean reiterates “the calls by the Asean Foreign Ministers attending the 42nd Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the 16th Asean Regional Forum held in July 2009 for the immediate release of all those under detention, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, with a view to enabling them to participate in the 2010 General Elections”.

The statement said Asean “stands ready to cooperate with the
Myanmar (Burma) Government in its efforts to realize the seven steps to democracy and remain constructively engaged with Myanmar in order to build the Asean Community together.

“We also continue to support the ongoing good offices of the United Nations Secretary-General and urge Myanmar’s (Burma’s) full cooperation with the United Nations.

In May a war of wards broke out between Thailand and Burma over the detention of Suu Kyi after Thailand, the current rotating chair of the 10-member regional block, issued a statement saying Asean had "grave concern" over her situation.

The statement also said, “the honor and the credibility of the (Burma government) are at stake.”

Burma quickly fired back, attacking Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and accusing its neighbor of meddling in it’s internal affairs.

Thailand responded saying the original statement was made with the “best of intentions towards (Burma) Myanmar and reflects the desire for the process of national reconciliation in (Burma) Myanmar to move forward on the basis of inclusiveness, with the participation of all sectors of society.”

Below is a list of where it will be showing in the US next. Note: The Anchorage showing was not on the website's list of US showings, so it may be showing in other locations not on the list:

21-Aug – Hilo, HI – Palace Theater
28-Aug – Seattle, WA – NW Film Forum
28-Aug – New Haven, CT – Criterion
06-Sep – Albuquerque, NM – Guild Cinema
23-Sep – Tucson, AZ – The Loft
04-Oct – San Francisco, CA – Red Vic
08-Oct – Utica, NY – Utica College
09-Oct – Pleasantville, NY – Jacob Burns Film Center
24-Oct – Boulder, CO – UC-Boulder Int’l Film Series

And because I have way more to post than time, I'll add this picture of the bike rack at the Bear Tooth Monday night. The number of bikers keeps going up this summer.