dear Sri Barua, Vavani and FASS friends:
thank you for this interesting perspective and plan. you are all aware that the present regime in Myanmar, led by DASSK, has been charged with genocide in the International Court of justice; the court has ordered its govt to protect all evidence and protect Rohingyas as well as control its military. The UN investigations had been damning. I wonder how that will reflect on the association -- inviting the leader of a regime that has inflicted death and destruction on an entire population and pushed one million people into exile -- to its function. I also wonder how the Burmans/Myanmarese, a justifiably proud people of their heritage and history, will react to the idea of an external group trying to bestow dignity on their people. Many nations and groups, including our own, do not like to acknowledge problems or indignities they have inflicted on others. as someone who travels to Myanmar and has hosted several large delegations in India and the NE including a year ago, one is deeply aware that many of the ethnic minority groups continue to be ill-treated by the regime and fighting continues in several parts of the country between the Burmese army and rebel forces. I am sure that you have considered the challenge of coronavirus as that this will be around for some time to come and adversely impact all international and domestic travel? I see the head of the CDC has just given an interview where she says US has to hunker down for 2021 on this crisis and identifies the populations are greatest risk. Perhaps things will change by then, for the better, perhaps -- we can only hope so and take precautions. regards. stay well. On Sun, 15 Mar 2020, 09:56 Barua Rajen [email protected] [FriendsofAssamNE], <[email protected]> wrote: > > > FASS is discussing some key people to organize IMFF2021 > *INDIA MYANMAR FRIENDSHIP FESTIVAL (IMFF 2021)* > *for PEACE, PROSPERITY AND DIGNITY* > in *MANDALAY, Myanmar * > tentatively in *Second week of Feb 2021.*. > Unless you know some background, you may be asking the question Why a > Convention in Myanmar. and by FASS? > Well, one thing led to another. - FAST - during the last two weeks. > First, the GOI has announced a big agenda of cooperation in a meeting in > Myanmar, things for cooperation between the two countries under its Act > East policy. So things are opening up fast. The parties stressed the point > of people tp people connection by opening border Hats, road transportation > (with regular bus service from Imphal to Mandalay opening in April) and > many others. > > For the overall promotion of NE, FASS was always very keen for opening > our cultural connections with Myanmar. Many people have recently visited > Myanmar recently. Personally, Ajanta and I visited Myanmar in 2017 and have > seen many good things that Assam and NE need to learn from Myanmar. In > fact I wrote two articles in Prantik about Myanmar. > > During the Burmese war of 1820-1824 Assam lost its dignity when the > Burmese took away about 30,000 Assamese as prisoners to Burma. What > followed was the Anglo Burmese war which ended in the famous Yandabu Treaty > of 1826 that ended Assam's independence to the British. > This IMFF2021 Festival is in away to bring back the lost Dignity not only > for Assam but to many of the ethnic groups in Assam and Myanmar and bring > Peace and Prosperity for the future. > An important element of this Festival is that it will be attended by many > of the Assamese descendants who have been living in many Assamese villages > in and round Mandalay. They will also get their dignity back when they will > be able to connect with their father land, Assam for the first time in a > meaningful way. Besides, Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram and others also > have connections with Myanmar. > > During the last two weeks, Vavani Sarma and I have been discussing many > things and asked ourselves why FASS not take the leadership role to > organize a convention in Myanmar. He discussed the matter with the Indian > Ambassador in Myanmar who fully supported the proposal and promised to give > all help necessary. > As it stand now, we are discussing the following agenda: > A Two and Half a Day Festival > Feb 12, 13 and 14 > in a Hotel in Mandalay > The Festival to have the theme > *A Tale of Two Countries* > a short seminar on History and Culture > An Exhibition > A Grand Fashion Show displaying the rich heritage of the two countries > A Car Rally from Guwahati to Mandalay > Individual Hits Hiking Tours from Tamu (border town in Manipur) > A Documentary 'A Tale of Two Countries' > We are planning to invite Aung San Suu Kyi as the Chief Guest > > We are looking for all stake holders to attend the festival > Assam has a lot to market. > Especially the Assam's educational institutions and Medical Hospital can > benefit by opening a new market. > (Do you know that at present about 30 Burmese students are studying in > Assam) > At present there is no direct Air Line from GHY to Mandalay. One will have > to either drive by car (1000 km) or fly to Imphal and drive to Mandalay > (500 km). For the festival we might get an airline if we get enough > passengers. > > Rajen (Raj) Barua > Ph: 713 677 9162 > *"Never regret the past, but learn from the past;* > *Don't worry about the future, but plan for the future;* > *And enjoy the present."* > > >
