There's still hope

This is a bit belated, but still valuable all the same. The release of Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest. Post written by a member of the Partners USA team...

We had been waiting for this day for years.
by: Admin— Partners USA @ 3:36 am
Prayed for it, talked about it. Now the day was here. Aung San Suu Kyi walked out of her house arrest. It seemed too good to be true. Maybe it is too good to be true.

On Saturday November 13th the Burmese junta released Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from her illegal house arrest. The junta has detained Suu Kyi for 15 of the last 21 years, and continuously since May 30, 2003.

While thousands rejoiced in the streets of Rangoon and millions joined around the world, the military junta continued its offenses in the ethnic areas around the country. For the thousands who were forced to flee from their homes, the day was far from happy.

While the world is hoping, and believing, that this may be the beginning of change in Burma, we must not forget this: The government just conducted an election that they labeled democratic. It’s no secret that those elections guaranteed the military junta continuous power. While Aung San Suu Kyi walked out of her house arrest, more than 2200 were still sitting in Burma’s notorious prisons—imprisoned for their political views. While we sighed and let our shoulders down, feeling relieved that The Lady was free, tens of thousands of child soldiers carried weapons and burdens no child should have to carry. While we watched the news of a hero set free, hundreds of thousands were on the run—away from the brutal army.

Let’s not be fooled into thinking that the struggle is over; let’s not be fooled into thinking the children of Burma can now live free, full lives. Let’s be realistic and admit that the strong men of Naypyidaw still have an agenda, and it is not an agenda that includes freedom for the people of Burma.

Partners is pleased that Aung San Suu Kyi finally is released from her house arrest. But we also recognise that her release is almost meaningless unless there is a more substantial change in Burma. Unless the junta enters into dialogue with the National League for Democracy, with the ethnic groups in the country, and promises to restore democracy, life will go on as it has for more than 50 years for the people in the nation.

Please pray for a change. Please pray for Aung San Suu Kyi’s safety and health. Please pray for the more than 20,000 new refugees whose future is uncertain since their villages were attacked last week. Please pray for the political prisoners. Please pray for the thousands of child soldiers.

Aung San Suu Kyi said: “We have to work together. One person alone can’t do anything as important as bringing change and democracy to a country.” And this is what we believe too. That is why Burma needs you. This is why we at Partners need you.

- Oddny Gumaer, Partners Relief & Development

Political unrest

You may have seen in the media that Burma held it's national election on the 11th of November. This was predicted to be a rather meaningless event in termsof the outcome as the Burmese Army has been known to abuse its power to force locals to vote for particular political parties against their free will. But noone really expected the Burma Army rebels to launch a revenge attack on the Burma Army, forcing thousands of residents out of their homes and across the border into Thailand. Alhough most of these people will be able to return home safely once the conflict has died down, it is a reminder of just how dangerous their living conditions are and how violent the Burma Army is prepared to be in order to maintain power.

I cried as I saw these imagies taken by some of the Partners staff who were in Mae Sot to help out with the relief effort. My heart breaks for these people and the injustice they have, and continue to experience. It's scenarios like these that make me realise why I need to go and be the hands and feet of Jesus.

To market, to market...

I enjoyed a most delightful day at the KGUrbanVillage markets this past Saturday. Joined by my beautiful friend Lisa, we set out to sell a stack of pre-loved clothes donated by my generous friends as a fundraiser for my trip.

There's something wonderful about getting up with the sun and preparing for an exciting day. It was even more wonderful to have live acoustic worship playing courtesy of the local market busker.

I really sensed the favour of God upon my stall throughout the day. My prayer: "If you want me to do this thing, you have to provide every step of the way". And He did.

We were blessed with a gorgeous sunny day that also brought the slightest touch of sunburn, but was also the complete opposite of the predicted thunderstorms (I should mention God and I had stern words during the 24 hours prior).

We made more than any other stall in the vicinity and seemed to somehow draw people who seemed blind to the stalls around us. I had some amazing conversations with people who wanted to know why I was doing this and felt so priveleged to share the heart and mission my God has given me to fulfill.

A huge thanks to all of my beautiful friends who helped out:

*Trihn, Steph, Kimmie, MJ, Anna, Bec, Lisa, Sara, Jess HS, and Jess W for prying clothes from their wardrobes and getting them to me in time;

*Housemate Bec who sacrificed her Friday night to meticulously tag, size, and hang every item, plus being the Sing's runner;

*Lisa for giving up her Saturday sleep-in to help run the stall and being an irresistable 'date' for the Columbian stallholder next to us.

*Dad for going on wild goose chases to find elusive, invisible bags of clothes.