my flag

This is my karen flag.it's pretty and describes all about me.if you want to see me,first check this flag is better.

my Karen national flag has deep meaning to Karen people, because it has been a rallying point during their decades long armed struggle against the Burmese military. Many in the audience wore clothing displaying the vivid colors Karen traditional dress has become famous for. But, nine year old Saw Zin Min beamed with pride as his mother helped him wrap his head in a scarf with red, white and blue stripes- the predominant colors in the Karen flag.

“I want to wear it because it’s Karen new year. All Karen people respect their flag,” he said.The young boy’s sentiment was echoed by Master of Ceremonies, Mahn Shwe Hnin, Headmaster of CDC School, in Mae Sot. “You have to love your flag and be proud of it,” he said. “If not, maybe one day Karen people will disappear from the world.” Karen people are proud of the fact that their flag is widely recognized. Dr. Tee Than Pyar founded The Karen National Association in 1881, becoming its first chairman. Afterwards, Dr. Tee Than Pyar, Sayar San Baw from Thararwaddy served as a chairman between 1930 and 1940. During this period, he and other Karen leaders petitioned parliament for the creation of a Karen flag and national anthem. That request was not ignored. It was discussed in parliament and voted upon in 1935. The public was invited to participate in a competition to design the new flag.

More than one hundred designs were received. Eventually, three were selected for consideration. Among the three designs selected, Mann Ba Khin, (BA), won the first prize. He was also a writer in the Karen organization. In his flag design, there was a frog drum (called that because it is covered with frog skin). He said ancient Karen people used the frog drum during war and venerated it. Karen people believed that it's a living thing. The second winner, Sayar Moe from Taung Oo incorporated a rising sun symbol. He noted the rising sun gave the bright light to all Karen people in the world; and sunlight could erase fear. For instance, if a person in a particular family was sick, other family members were worried, being fearful at night especially. When the daylight came, it could erase the fear. As well, sunlight gives life to all living things. All human beings need sunlight and doctors have even cured patients by exposing them to sunlight, as a medical treatment.

The third winner, Dr. Ba Saw Dwe incorporated the image of a white elephant image in the Karen flag. There was an elephant image on the frog drum. According to his definition, the white elephant is a precious treasure. Mann Ba Khin, the secretary of the Karen National Association, led a group to incorporate all three elements into the final design, which he sent to the Karen National Association. In the final design, the color red was used to speak of heroism and perseverance, white for purity and clarity and blue for honesty and peace.

Nine rays of light streaming from the rising sun indicated the nine regions from which the Karen people traced their origins. The frog drum symbolizes unity in traditional Karen culture. In 1936, Karen army leaders added two Dohs (rounded seeds) under the frog drum in the Karen flag. Before Burma gained independence in 1937, Karen people held a Karen New Year celebration in Rangoon. At the celebration, the Karen flag was successfully hoisted in the flag pole and Karen people bowed to it in unity. When the Karen armed revolution occurred on January 31, 1949, some people from the AFPLF government argued the Karen national flag was the flag of the rebels. After that, the government did not allow the flag to be used. However, some Karen leaders, who would not join the armed revolution, named Sayar Thar Hto and Sayar James Htun Aung and Saw Bel Lay bravely used the Karen National flag during Karen New Year celebrations in Rangoon. In the different regions of Burma where Karen live, and even abroad, Buddhist and Christian Karen people have used the Karen national flag during Wrist Tying ceremonies, cultural ceremonies, public meetings and especially during Karen New Year.

“I’m very happy and proud to be Karen,” even i don't have my own land and my own country.

from htoopuie ghay.

last week we just looked at some pictures and created the story of the image and of my story that i want to share with you now is "the image of war".the picture liked pretty bad and it is the tragedy story...this story is about the "thadu"...

in 1809 thadu was born in east of Burma in a little village called kuthaw. his parents were farmers and grew rice, corn and some plants for their family. that was their careers but it was tough work.they always did that and went to city and sold their crops to others every week. thadu's family was quite poor. he started to go to school when he was 7-year. his parents did not have enough money to pay the tuition for the school so he had to work and help his parents with the chores in the house, sometimes went to farm and worked with his parents. one day when he came from the school at noon he was headed into his house, he heard his mother was crying and some relatives in the house then he got into the house and saw his father was laying down beside his mother. at that time thadu knew that his father was passed away. thadu t was very sad to face the great tragedy happened to his family. 4-year after his fathead's death in 1824 he turned 17. he was a good looking guy and strong. at that time he quit school for 3-year and started work with his mom now. in 1826 Japanese troops invaded Burma ruled many places included his village. the troops were always ruled them, took stuff, food , and the things from village. everyday they killed people in village and raped the women as they wanted. they were headed to destroy the village. what to do " thadu said" to his mom. thadu was young adult and did not like to face the evil any more. at night in a quiet time he asked his mom to move to another village , they prepared for the moving and moved to another village. after their living in puye village a mouth they heard the kuthaw village was destroyed and burned with fire by Japanese troops. they knew that a few people could escape. the puye village leader informed that Japanese troops planed to come and destroy puye village and he said we must prepare for the war as we can. village leadrer announced that who is in age 18 and over must fight for the village except thadu. time was up the japanese troops arrived in the village and surround the village. soonly the war started at 8:00 am -1:00 pm. they did not had strong fighter like japanese troops and later they all had to retreat, and tried to flee away but the troops caught them all.in this picture you will see thadu was standing and raising his hands...guess what would happen next.

3,000 Ethnic Karen Refugees at Risk of Deportation from Thailand to burma

3,000 Ethnic Karen Refugees at Risk of Deportation from Thailand to Burma
03 Feb 2010

The Burma Campaign UK today called on the government of Thailand not to go ahead with forcing around 3,000 ethnic Karen refugees back to Burma. The refugees fled into Thailand in June 2009 following a military offensive by the Burmese Army and their allies, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), in Karen State, Eastern Burma. Latest reports are that so called ‘voluntary’ repatriation will start on February 5th.

Although the Royal Thai Government and local and military representatives have officially stated that they will not force people to return, in practice they are applying significant pressure on the refugees to return.

Until now they have been kept in two temporary camps, Nong Bua, (also called No Bu), and Mae U Su, in Tha Song Yang close to the Thailand-Burma border. Many of these refugees have already been forced to flee their homes four or more times.

The area in Karen State to which the refugees would be made to return to has many landmines. On January 18th a pregnant women who had returned stepped on a landmine and was seriously injured. In addition, the area is now under the control of the DKBA, an organisation which is guilty of committing horrific human rights abuses against civilians, including widespread use of forced labour, executions, torture and mutilations, forced recruitment of soldiers, including child soldiers, theft and extortion, and forced taxation at extremely high levels, making survival very difficult.

The refugees say that they would return if they could, but it is not safe to do so. Only one family out of the 3,000 people has said they wish to return.

“Sending these refugees back to Burma is sending them back to possible death, slave labour or forced recruitment as soldiers,” said Zoya Phan, International Coordinator of Burma Campaign UK. “Over the past 25 years Thailand has earned the respect of the international community by giving shelter to refugees fleeing abuses in Burma. If refugees are now forced to return it will not only be morally unacceptable, it will also damage the reputation of Thailand in the eyes of the world.”

The Burma Campaign UK is also calling on the British and other governments to ask the Royal Thai government to allow them to remain in Thailand.

about me

my name is htoo eh taw.i am from Burma.i came to united states of America in 2008 April 22 and arrived in April 24.The current city that i live in is Chicago.before i came here the first thing that i knew is i'll be in united states but i did not know the state or city that i'll come to.when i got here everything is different from the country that i used to lived. it is the 3th biggest city in the united states and i wanderd when i visited the center of city becaose it full of skyscrapers.i like to live in this city because it is devolop city and good education for my future,i plan to live in this city for 10 years when and my goals are coming true i'll go back to my country and find my career there........
from
Htoopuie ghay...

This will be the tallest building in the world ever. the hight is 818 m. it located in dubia, UAE. it's called "burj dubai". this building is incomplete, probably will be completed .