Over 160 residents from the Alstonville Plateau paused to join hands around a 70 metre long map of Burma on Saturday, as part of the annual Partners Run for Relief at Hillpark oval in Wollongbar (www.run4relief.org.au). The event was a symbol of hope for the people of a nation ravaged by civil war for almost 60 years, as well as a way to raise the profile of the humanitarian crisis in the military-ruled Burma.
Event organiser, Luke Parker, was overjoyed with the attitude of love and hope the community expressed through their participation in the day. "Early in the week the weather was dark and wet, a metaphor for the oppression in Burma. Today the weather cleared and over 160 people joined hands and stood united with the people of Burma. The sun and the light of hope truly shone today," Luke said.
Runners also used the event to raise in excess of $9,000 through community sponsorship for completing laps of the oval. Those unable to run took part in a symbolic prayer walk around the outline of Burma, stopping at key points to focus prayer on particular needs. The funds raised will go directly to the Partners '5 Alive' campaign, which provides families of five on the run from the military in Burma with the essential items they need to stay alive for one month.
The humanitarian crisis in Burma has been in the spotlight over the last few weeks after the most sustained and largest protests in a decade broke out in the nation's former capital Rangoon, following the military regime's decision to dramatically raise fuel prices, effectively doubling transport costs overnight. Over 100 activists have been arrested, and the authorities' search for other key leaders is intensifying with severe pressure on the activists' families.
US President George W. Bush this week publically condemned the military regime, using the APEC summit to call all those who have the privilege of freedom of speech to speak out on behalf of those in Burma who don't enjoy the same opportunity. "It's inexcusable that we've got this kind of tyrannical behaviour in Asia. It's inexcusable that people who march for freedom are then treated by a repressive state," President Bush said.
Jonathan Thein and his family, Karen refugees from Burma who arrived in Australia earlier this year, were special guests at the event, sharing their experiences of living in a refugee camp in Thailand for 12 years after fleeing the brutal attacks of the Burmese Army. Speaking on the positive outcomes of the Run For Relief, Jonathan's wife, Moo Eh, said there wasn't a word that could express the amount of thanks her family felt on behalf of all those impacted by the conflict in Burma.
The event also provided an opportunity for residents to sign a letter to be sent to the Prime Minister, John Howard, calling on the Australian Government to be more proactive in seeking opportunities for peace and democracy in Burma.
Partners Relief & Development is a federation of charitable organisations based in the USA, Canada, Norway, Australia, UK, and NZ (to be registered this year). The first registered charity (in the USA) was founded in 1994 by Steve Gumaer. Each charitable organisation is autonomous and works co-operatively in the federated relationship to help people affected by crisis and war. The overall organisation is currently focussing every resource on the arena of Burma.