| IID Welcomes Dr. Cynthia Maung: Filipino activists vow to sustain solidarity for Burma |
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| Friday, 26 March 2010 | |
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Manila, Philippines – With firm commitment to continuously extend solidarity for Burma, a country under a brutal military regime, the Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), and the Free Burma Coalition – Philippines (FBC-Phils), yesterday (25, March 2010) welcomed 2002 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Community Leadership and one of 2003 Time Magazine's Asian Heroes, Dr. Cynthia Maung in a solidarity dinner attended by mostly Filipino activists, youth and students and some prominent peace advocates based in Manila. Manila, Philippines – With firm commitment to continuously extend solidarity for Burma, a country under a brutal military regime, the Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), and the Free Burma Coalition – Philippines (FBC-Phils), yesterday (25, March 2010) welcomed 2002 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Community Leadership and one of 2003 Time Magazine's Asian Heroes, Dr. Cynthia Maung in a solidarity dinner attended by mostly Filipino activists, youth and students and some prominent peace advocates based in Manila.After leaving Burma in 1988 to escape a savage crackdown by Burma's military regime, Dr. Cynthia Maung founded and managed the Mae Tao community clinic in Mae Sot, near the Thai-Burma border; treating refugees, migrants and orphans from Burma. She works with some hundred paramedics, volunteers and teachers. Born into a Karen family in Rangoon Burma, Dr. Cynthia Maung started working as a young doctor in a small rural clinic in Karen state. Before joining nationwide anti-government protests in 1988, she has personally witnessed the abject poverty and undemocracy under military rule. She is in the Philippines for a 5-day visit and is being hosted by the Likhaan Center for Women's Health Inc. (LIKHAAN). Fernando Pena, vice-president of the Board of Trustees of IID assured visitors from Burma that Filipino activists will continue to extend solidarity for Burma and stressed that “Burma needs concrete help now.” “We are here to help. We can't shoot the military regime for all their wrong doings but we can at least “pinch” them and remind them that the world is watching all their actions,” said Pena in a casual conversation with Dr. Cynthia Maung. Dr. Cynthia Maung said that people of Burma especially the refugees living at the Thai-Burma border also need adequate health care. She stressed that junta's military operations dramatically increased cases of internally displaced people who need humanitarian protection and medical care. She added that while her clinic provides medical care for the IDPs, the world must act together to stop the SPDC's military operations and attacks against the people of Burma. Organizations present during the dinner reception were: Pagkakaisa ng mga Kababaihan para sa Kalayaan (KAISA – KA), Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific (CATW – AP), Bagong Kamalayan Collective Inc. (BKCI), Southeast Asia Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers (SEASUCS), Amnesty International Philippines, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) Women, Asian Bridge Philippines, Movement for the Advancement of Student Power (MASP), GZO Peace Institute, Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralitang Lungsod (KPML). A “Bandana” (head scarf) was given to Dr. Cynthia Maung, by the FBC-Phils Women's Committee, which the group said symbolizes their solidarity for the women and other oppressed sectors of Burma. Capping the diner reception, Dr. Cynthia Maung graciously granted requests from the activists to have photo-sessions with her. (Reported and documented by IID Manila Team.) Share this article through the following social media sites:             |