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As a former comrade of independence hero Aung San, he maintained a close friendship with Suu Kyi’s mother Khin Kyi and the rest of the family. He shared his thoughts and opinions openly with the future National League for Democracy (NLD) leader during her many visits to Burma in the 1970s and 80s, and was undoubtedly one of her greatest political influences. As a former prisoner himself, Ohn Myint also co-chaired the NLD’s humanitarian committee, which offered financial and moral support to political prisoners and their families.

Majority of Cyber Attacks Came from Chinese IP Addresses

The Internet sites of the Democratic Voice of Burma, The Irrawaddy and the Mizzima news service were interrupted after being overwhelmed by a flood of incoming messages known as a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. The majority of the cyber attacks on The Irrawaddy came through China, with a lower number from the US and Australia. Other attacks on exiled media came through at least nine different countries, including the US. The attacks crippled the websites of Burmese exile media organizations in the final week of September, coinciding with the third anniversary of protests led by Buddhist monks in Burma. A similar attack on these sites also occurred in September 2008, on the first anniversary of the monks’ protests.

Suu Kyi’s Party Marks 22 years

As it marked its 22nd anniversary on Sept. 27, Burma’s disbanded National League for Democracy (NLD) party said it is currently reconsolidating and will be revitalized when its leader Aung San Suu Kyi is released from detention. Although the party was disbanded last month after failing to register for the Nov. 7 election, senior party officials say the party still exists and will continue its struggle for democracy in Burma. Despite jail threats, the NLD has sent its representatives out to spread the message among the electorate that Burmese citizens have the right not to vote and that they can exercise that right should they find no alternative to the NLD.

Burma War Crimes Commission Receives Growing Support

A proposed UN Commission of Inquiry to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma has received growing support, with the governments of Lithuania, the Netherlands and New Zealand becoming the latest to back the move. Australia, the UK, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the US, Canada and Hungary have already voiced their support. New York-based Human Rights Watch has also urged the Japanese and Philippines governments to publicly support the establishment of the commission. At a press conference, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon did not explicitly come out in favor of the commission, saying that it was something that needed to be decided by the UN’s member states.

Thailand’s Redshirts Mark Coup Anniversary

Redshirt protesters gather at Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong intersection. (Photo: http://en.wikipedia.org)

Thousands of anti-government Redshirt protesters defied a state of emergency in Thailand’s capital on Sept. 19 to stage their first major demonstration since their street protests were ended by a deadly military crackdown in May. Thousands of people gathered at Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong intersection, a glitzy shopping district that was occupied by the group from April to May. The crowd, exuberant but peaceful, spilled into the streets and snarled traffic, while hundreds of police stood by. Another demonstration was held in the northern city of Chiang Mai, the hometown of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whose ouster in a coup on Sept. 19, 2006, has sharply polarized Thai society.

All Civil Servants to Relocate to Naypyidaw

All government employees in Rangoon have been ordered to move to the new capital Naypyidaw by April 2011 at the latest, according to a Burmese army officer. A government housing scheme in Naypyidaw has been extended to accommodate nearly 30,000 more civil servants and their families.