(By Kanbawza Win in Vancouver: January 5, 2004)

Burma, which gained independence from Britain on the 4th Jan.1948, is still struggling to get rid of herself free from the shackles of the military clutches led by a tyrannical Junta. The people of Burma who had managed to seek asylum in Vancouver, B C, and Canada have taken the initiative to commemorate this occasion in order to remind them as well as to highlight their cause to the world. In Vancouver there are two categories of Burmese. The ones who came here for greener Pasteur, are working hands in glove with the multilateral corporations doing business with the Junta and the other usually composed of grass root level people belong to the pro democracy groups and ethnic nationalities. The former wants to maintain a status quo while the latter is very much segmented.

Hence, the grass root level activist in co-operation with the Canadian friends initiated this humble ceremony. The theme of "From the first to second independence" which is the words of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was chosen not only to highlight our cause but also to honour her, who is still under house arrest up to this day.

A simple Buddhist Memorial Service ceremony to give merit and recollect those compatriots who had made a supreme sacrifice for autonomy, democracy and the prevalence of human rights in Burma. They especially remember the latest episode of Depayin, where the military instigated thugs attempted to murder the only Burmese Nobel laureate and pro democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The Buddhist ceremony was followed by a short candle light service (Christian ceremony) led by Assistant Pastor Soe Kyaw Thu.

A keynote speech was given by Dr Chao Tzang Yaunghwe, (Eugene Thaike) the de facto leader of the Burmese Diaspora. It was his father Sao Shwe Thaike, the first President of modern Burma that lowered the Union Jack and raised the flag of the Union of Burma way back in 1948 and ironically after half a century, his son was still leading the people of Burma in the struggle for second independence from the yoke of military rule. He emphasized of how the brave Burmese army was waging war not against the armed resistance groups but to the women and children with their scotch earth policy of four cuts.

Messages from Amnesty International, Canada Asia Pacific Resource Network, Vancouver Burma Round Table Conferences were read as it is the first time Burmese Independent Day ceremony ever held in Vancouver. The ceremony was organised by the grass root level people like Kyaw Thi Ha and Soe U. Many Canadian friends showed their solidarity by braving the -- 7 degree temperature and turning up at the ceremony where a potluck lunch was provided.

Obviously the other group, which favours the status quo for their ulterior motive would either stay away from this occasion or try their level best to disrupt this inspirational, happy and joyous occasion. Vancouver seems to be replica of Burma where the Junta, with the encouragement of multilateral cooperation successfully to lure the weak heart members of the pro democracy movement into their fold. Many of the 8888 generations have fallen into this trap and have unwittingly become the stooges of the military Junta.