Detained Monk Leader U Gambira Honored
The United Kingdom-based Index on Censorship—one of the world’s leading magazines on free expression issues—honored imprisoned Buddhist monk leader U Gambira for his leading role in last September’s peaceful demonstrations with an award on April 21.
The event was held at Christ Church Spitalfields, a 300-year old church in central London, where Burmese monk U Ottaya and well-known Burmese blogger Ko Htike received the prize—a medal—on behalf of U Gambira.
U Gambira is one of the leaders of the All Burma Monks Alliance, which spearheaded nationwide protests in September. While he became a fugitive following the deadly September 26-27 crackdown on protesters, he made important announcements to the world about the alliance’s aims amid a climate of fear and arrests of pro-democracy activists.
U Gambira, 29, once a child soldier at the age of 12, was arrested on November 4 last year in Sintgaing Township in Central Burma where he was hiding. He has reportedly been charged with treason by the military junta and is currently being held at Insein Prison in Rangoon.
Along with other winners for film, media, literature and journalism, U Gambira won the Bindmans Law and Campaigning Award. The Buddhist monk was selected unanimously by the board of commissioners.
The advocacy group, Index on Censorship, noted on its website that the award is given to lawyers or campaigners “who have fought repression, or have struggled to change political climates and perceptions.”
The award marks the first time that Index on Censorship has taken a stance on military-ruled Burma.
According to BBC Burmese, an Index official said that Burmese monks leading the demonstrations in September represented a significant event which had got the attention of several human rights groups.
Pyinnya Jota, who fled to Thailand in February and who was also a leading member of the All Burma Monks Alliance, said, “I am happy to say that this award could bring international attention again to our country’s current situation.”
– Source : www.irrawaddy.org, by Aye Lae
– Photo : Ko-Htike ko-htike.blogspot.com
