"Burma" (by James Mackay)

Aung San Suu Kyi at her home in University Avenue, Rangoon. Burma's democracy icon and leader of the opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), spent more than 15 years under house arrest in her lakeside home and Insein prison. She was released from her latest sentence in November 2010 and now continues to work tirelessly to achieve democracy and national reconciliation in Burma in spite of threats and oppression from the ruling miltary regime

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:30:50 +0000

Aung San Suu Kyi at her home in University Avenue, Rangoon. Burma's democracy icon and leader of the opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), spent more than 15 years under house arrest in her lakeside home and Insein prison. She was released from her latest sentence in November 2010 and now continues to work tirelessly to achieve democracy and national reconciliation in Burma in spite of threats and oppression from the ruling miltary regime
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U Eindaka, the abbot of Maggin monastery, stands in the middle of a room surveying the remnants of the devastation caused four years ago when he and his fellow monks were arrested. On September 26th 2007, at the height of Burma's monk led Saffron Revolution, Maggin Monastery in Rangoon, was raided as the regime commenced its brutal crackdown on the protests. On 13th January 2012 the monks were released from prison and more than four years since the monastery was raided and locked, they returned and opened the doors once more. Everything they found was exactly as it was left the night the military regime arrested them and ransacked the buildings.

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:30:53 +0000

U Eindaka, the abbot of Maggin monastery, stands in the middle of a room surveying the remnants of the devastation caused four years ago when he and his fellow monks were arrested. On September 26th 2007, at the height of Burma's monk led Saffron Revolution, Maggin Monastery in Rangoon, was raided as the regime commenced its brutal crackdown on the protests. On 13th January 2012 the monks were released from prison and more than four years since the monastery was raided and locked, they returned and opened the doors once more. Everything they found was exactly as it was left the night the military regime arrested them and ransacked the buildings.
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Soldiers from the Burmese army stop and search a truck in central Burma. The Burmese authorities keep a strict control on the public, allowing no form of dissent to their authoritarian rule.

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:30:58 +0000

Soldiers from the Burmese army stop and search a truck in central Burma. The Burmese authorities keep a strict control on the public, allowing no form of dissent to their authoritarian rule.
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A soldier from the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) looking out over the Moie river keeps watch at the headquarters of 7th Brigade in Karen State, Burma.

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:30:58 +0000

A soldier from the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) looking out over the Moie river keeps watch at the headquarters of 7th Brigade in Karen State, Burma.
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Min Ko Naing, founder and Chairman of the ABFSU and leader of the 88 Generations Students, is one of Burma's most prominent opponents of the military regime. He led the student uprising in 1988 but was arrested a year later and jailed for 16 years. Released in 2005, along with colleagues, he formed the 88 Generations Students group. In August 2007 he led peaceful protests through the streets of Rangoon that would lead to the Saffron Revolution, but he was arrested and sentenced to 65 years in jail. On 13th January 2012 he was released from Thayet prison under a presidential amnesty and along with the 88 Generation Students he is set to play a critical role in shaping Burma's future

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:30:58 +0000

Min Ko Naing, founder and Chairman of the ABFSU and leader of the 88 Generations Students, is one of Burma's most prominent opponents of the military regime. He led the student uprising in 1988 but was arrested a year later and jailed for 16 years. Released in 2005, along with colleagues, he formed the 88 Generations Students group. In August 2007 he led peaceful protests through the streets of Rangoon that would lead to the Saffron Revolution, but he was arrested and sentenced to 65 years in jail. On 13th January 2012 he was released from Thayet prison under a presidential amnesty and along with the 88 Generation Students he is set to play a critical role in shaping Burma's future
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Government propaganda is prevalent throughout Burma warning people of the dangers of ‘internal and external destructive elements’. The ‘People’s Desire’ has become a mantra for the authorities that is printed daily in state controlled newspapers and appears on signs throughout the country.

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:31:26 +0000

Government propaganda is prevalent throughout Burma warning people of the dangers of ‘internal and external destructive elements’. The ‘People’s Desire’ has become a mantra for the authorities that is printed daily in state controlled newspapers and appears on signs throughout the country.
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Daw Htwe Kyi and her 45 year old daughter Ma Win Ma who has been recently confirmed HIV positve. Ma Win Ma has started a programme of ARV drugs to combat the onset of the illness at Phyu Phyu Thin’s HIV/AIDS clinic in South Dagon, Rangoon, where more than 200 patients receive free treatment and care. There are an estimated 336,000 HIV positive people in Burma, yet only 10% receive treatment in a country where the government spends the least percentage of its GDP on health care of any country in the world.

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:31:26 +0000

Daw Htwe Kyi and her 45 year old daughter Ma Win Ma who has been recently confirmed HIV positve. Ma Win Ma has started a programme of ARV drugs to combat the onset of the illness at Phyu Phyu Thin’s HIV/AIDS clinic in South Dagon, Rangoon, where more than 200 patients receive free treatment and care. There are an estimated 336,000 HIV positive people in Burma, yet only 10% receive treatment in a country where the government spends the least percentage of its GDP on health care of any country in the world.
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A young boy clutching a toy gun lies suffering from acute malaria in the paediatric ward at the Mae Tao Clinic on the Thai-Burma border. Approximately 300 people per day receive free healthcare at the clinic, mostly being migrant workers and refugees who have fled across the border from Burma (Myanmar) to escape the desperate poverty and persecution from the ruling military regime. Healthcare is all but non-existent in Burma, where less than 2% of the GDP is spent on healthcare and education combined.

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:31:24 +0000

A young boy clutching a toy gun lies suffering from acute malaria in the paediatric ward at the Mae Tao Clinic on the Thai-Burma border. Approximately 300 people per day receive free healthcare at the clinic, mostly being migrant workers and refugees who have fled across the border from Burma (Myanmar) to escape the desperate poverty and persecution from the ruling military regime. Healthcare is all but non-existent in Burma, where less than 2% of the GDP is spent on healthcare and education combined.
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Su Su Nway, a member of the NLD, is one of the most prominent human rights and labour activists in Burma. In 2005 she won an historic legal victory against the junta's long-standing practice of forced labour. However, the outcome also saw her jailed for 9 months in Insein prison. In August 2007 she played a key role in leading protests against the regime and despite going into hiding was finally arrested and sentenced to 8 years in prison. She was released from Hkamti prison under amnesty in October 2011.

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:31:24 +0000

Su Su Nway, a member of the NLD, is one of the most prominent human rights and labour activists in Burma. In 2005 she won an historic legal victory against the junta's long-standing practice of forced labour. However, the outcome also saw her jailed for 9 months in Insein prison. In August 2007 she played a key role in leading protests against the regime and despite going into hiding was finally arrested and sentenced to 8 years in prison. She was released from Hkamti prison under amnesty in October 2011.
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Every day, hundreds of Burmese cross over the border into Thailand fleeing the horrendous poverty and persecution forced on them by the ruling military regime back home in Burma (Myanmar). There are more than 100,000 Burmese migrants living in the Mae Sot area, mostly illegal and constantly living in fear of deportation. Whilst some come to sell goods, most end up working in the regions many sweat shops and factories or living homeless and begging on the streets.

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:31:24 +0000

Every day, hundreds of Burmese cross over the border into Thailand fleeing the horrendous poverty and persecution forced on them by the ruling military regime back home in Burma (Myanmar). There are more than 100,000 Burmese migrants living in the Mae Sot area, mostly illegal and constantly living in fear of deportation. Whilst some come to sell goods, most end up working in the regions many sweat shops and factories or living homeless and begging on the streets.
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Aung Chit, 42 years old and suffering advanced stages of HIV has been at the clinic for two months. Phyu Phyu Thin’s HIV/AIDS clinic in South Dagon, Rangoon, where more than 200 patients receive free treatment and care. There are an estimated 336,000 HIV positive people in Burma, yet only 10% receive treatment in a country where the government spends the least percentage of its GDP on health care of any country in the world.

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:31:39 +0000

Aung Chit, 42 years old and suffering advanced stages of HIV has been at the clinic for two months. Phyu Phyu Thin’s HIV/AIDS clinic in South Dagon, Rangoon, where more than 200 patients receive free treatment and care. There are an estimated 336,000 HIV positive people in Burma, yet only 10% receive treatment in a country where the government spends the least percentage of its GDP on health care of any country in the world.
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Crowds overwhelmed with joy mob Nilar Thein, Ko Jimmy and Phyu Nay Kyi as they try to leave the airport

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:31:39 +0000

Crowds overwhelmed with joy mob Nilar Thein, Ko Jimmy and Phyu Nay Kyi as they try to leave the airport
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A policeman armed with a rifle on duty in downtown Rangoon. The Burmese authorities keep a strict control on the public, allowing no form of dissent to their authoritarian rule.

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:31:39 +0000

A policeman armed with a rifle on duty in downtown Rangoon. The Burmese authorities keep a strict control on the public, allowing no form of dissent to their authoritarian rule.
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Democracy icon and Nobel Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Burma's opposition party the National League for Democracy (NLD), meets with party members as she prepares to stand for election to Burma's parliament in April 2012. The Lady, as she is commonly known, spent more than 15 years under house arrest in her lakeside home and Insein prison before being released from her latest sentence in November 2010.

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:31:39 +0000

Democracy icon and Nobel Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Burma's opposition party the National League for Democracy (NLD), meets with party members as she prepares to stand for election to Burma's parliament in April 2012. The Lady, as she is commonly known, spent more than 15 years under house arrest in her lakeside home and Insein prison before being released from her latest sentence in November 2010.
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As day breaks each morning monks walk through the streets of downtown Rangoon collecting their alms. Buddhism plays a vital role in Burmese culture and society.

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:31:39 +0000

As day breaks each morning monks walk through the streets of downtown Rangoon collecting their alms. Buddhism plays a vital role in Burmese culture and society.
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Ludu U Sein Win, one of Burma's most famous and respected journalists is also one of the most outspoken critics of the ruling regime. For decades his articles and writings have openly defied the authorities strict censorship rules but his condemnation has has had its price to pay. In 1967 he was sentenced without trial to 13 years in prison for his political writings, being jailed in Insein prison and Coco Island. He was released in 1976 but was re-arrested almost immediately and jailed for a further 4 years. He suffered a stroke in prison and despite being paralysed in his right side and in need of oxygen to aid his breathing he continues to defy the regime in writing two articles every day under a guise of different pseudonyms.