Further information:
U Gambira became the most prominent monk in the demonstration in 2007. He became the spoke person of the All Burma Monks Alliance (ABMA). The ABMA is instrumental in getting hundreds and thousands of monks onto the streets during the 2007 nationwide demonstration.
His real name is U Sandawbartha also known as Nyi Nyi Lwin. U Gambira is the pseudonym. He started to use it during the nationwide demonstration.
U Gambira was born on 19th June, 1979. He has seven siblings out of which he is the fifth. At the age of five he started schooling. When he was 12, he became a soldier without his parents’ knowledge. After learning that he was in a military unit in Rangoon, the parents took him out of it. Regarding the case, authorities came to them for investigation. Fearing arrest and military service or imprisonment despite his under-age if authorities found him, he was sent to a monastery to be a young monk. Enjoying religious life, he learnt the scriptures and passed religious exams with flying colors.
As an enthusiast for literature, he frequently purchased and collected books on religion, English language and computer technology. He set up a library in his native Pauk Town and donated books to it. He also made blood donation every year. He also learned English language, computer, politic, aesthetic literature, poetry and music. He has also written religious articles, short stories and poems.
In 2005, he became particularly aware of people’s poor livelihood, education and religion status. He started campaigning among the monks.
He has never expected the despotic generals to brutally massacre monks, students and the people as events bore out. He explained afterwards that he has taken to the streets as he did not anticipate such wickedness.
Whenever he recalled the atrocities, he suffered nervous tension and his health weakened. In spite of poor health, he has to keep up the momentum of the uprising while evading and hiding from arrest. Though his colleagues and friends urged him to go into exile, he faithfully upheld the vow among freedom fighters “not to flee abroad until the struggle is won.” The junta detained his brother.
Despite being on the run, he spoke to the world of the recent protests and the brutal crackdown by the ruling junta by writing an article, which appeared as an editorial on the Washington Post. He was arrested the same day his article appeared on the Washington Post on November 4. Currently, the junta is planning to charge him and his brother.
Before he got arrested, he sent the following message to Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, the United Nations special envoy to Burma.
“Mr. (Ibrahim) Gambari… I wish to say, please do something effective and practical for Burma. Measures such as economic sanctions and arms embargo will take time (years) to achieve a political solution. What is most important is for today, for tomorrow.
He also left a message for the international community as follows;
“Many people are being killed, imprisoned, tortured, and sent to forced labor camps. I hereby sincerely ask the international community to do something to stop these atrocities. My chances of survival are very slim now. But I have not given up, and I will try my best.” |
