Ethnic Dancers - Photo Session

The cultural dance groups are from the following ethnic communities:

Kachin
Karenni
Karen
Chin
Mon
Shan
Arrakan

Karen State (Kayin State) is geographically located at the south eastern part of Burma. Karen people make up the second largest population in Burma and its capital is Pa-An Town. The religions practiced are Buddhism and Christianity.

Since 1945, the military had been harassing them and they are oppressed until now by the military regime.

For the fear of their lives, many Karen people and their families have fled to Thailand and Malaysia. Those who are still living in the Capital city, they are watched closely by the military intelligence. They are discriminated on religions and subjugated to mental and physical tortures when they are in the military custody.

There are more than 4,000 Karen people alone in Malaysia (various states) doing mostly odd jobs.

The MKO (Malaysia Karen Organization) was formed in 2005 to render as much help as possible to the ethnic Karen people residing in Malaysia.

MKO office: 42-3G, Wisma City Tower,
Jalan Alor,
50200
Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 016 2255 415

Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM)
Wisma MLS,
31, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman,
50100
Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03 2691369
016 6827 287

The United States President Barack Obama’s Statement

I call on the Burmese government to release National League for Democracy Secretary General and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi from detention immediately and unconditionally. I strongly condemn her house arrest and detention, which have also been condemned around the world. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has issued opinions affirming that the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi dating back to 2003 is arbitrary unjustified and in contravention of Burma’s own law, and the United Nations Security Council reaffirmed on May 22 their concern about the situation and called for the release of all political prisoners.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s continued detention, isolation and show trial based on spurious charges cast serious doubt on the Burmese regime’s willingness to be a responsible member of the international community. This is an important opportunity for the government in Burma to demonstrate that it respects its own laws and its own people, is ready to work with the National League for Democracy and other ethnic and opposition groups, and is prepared to move toward reconciliation.

By her actions, Aung San Suu Kyi has represented profound patriotism, sacrifice and the vision of a democratic and prosperous Burma. It is time for the Burmese government to drop all charges against Aung San Suu Kyi and unconditionally release her and her fellow political prisoners. Such an action would be an affirmative and significant step on Burma’s part to begin to restore its standing in the eyes of the United States and the world community and to move toward a better future for its people.