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EVEN THOUGH I’M FREE I AM NOT
by James Mackay
Though imprisoned they are everywhere with us. More than 2,100 political prisoners are currently incarcerated in the most horrendous of prison conditions in Burma’s notorious jails. Since the 1988 popular democracy movement inside Burma was crushed in a ruthless crackdown by the military regime, thousands of people have been arrested, tortured and given long prison sentences for their beliefs and political activities.
“Even Though I’m Free I Am Not” is a global documentary photography project about Burma's political prisoners. Traveling across the world to South East Asia, Australia, Japan, Europe, USA, Canada as well as into Burma itself, hundreds of Burma’s former political prisoners who have fled the country and are now forced to live in exile often as stateless people, will be photographed, coming together to raise awareness of the tragic plight of their colleagues still detained in jail.
This simple symbolic gesture of the palm being shown in the Buddhist Abhaya Mudhra with the name of a colleague currently suffering silently in prison written on it, becomes a combined act of silent protest, remembrance and fearlessness. Qualities instilled in all of Burma's political prisoners.
“Even Though I’m Free I Am Not” is a global documentary photography project about Burma's political prisoners. Traveling across the world to South East Asia, Australia, Japan, Europe, USA, Canada as well as into Burma itself, hundreds of Burma’s former political prisoners who have fled the country and are now forced to live in exile often as stateless people, will be photographed, coming together to raise awareness of the tragic plight of their colleagues still detained in jail.
This simple symbolic gesture of the palm being shown in the Buddhist Abhaya Mudhra with the name of a colleague currently suffering silently in prison written on it, becomes a combined act of silent protest, remembrance and fearlessness. Qualities instilled in all of Burma's political prisoners.
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170 Responses to “EVEN THOUGH I’M FREE I AM NOT”
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I wish freedom and peace to the people of Burma.
if you are not free, we are not free.
Now…
If you are not free, we are not free…
Just as South Africa’s apartheid policies ended so must end Burma’s corrupt military facist occupation.
peace to all Burmese. praying for your human rights
I wish peace and freedom to Burma and all world
Free! Free! Free!
Fight! Fight! Fight!
Everyone
wish democracy for Burma
I will fight n fight for fREE
I hope I’m one of 10s if not 100s of thousands signing up to support this cause - the freedom of all the political prisoners in Burma and ultimately the whole country.
“Even Though I’m Free I Am Not” is a global documentary photography project about Burma’s political prisoners.
Thank-you for reminding me that I need to do more
While anyone is unjustly imprisoned, I am not free.
While anyone is unjustly imprisoned, I am not free
Come le sentinelle del mattino, non dormiamo
nell’attesa di una giustizia vera per chi soffre
nella prigionia del corpo e della mente.. W Aung
Liberté pour les innocents, opprimés par l’impitoyable junte militaire birmane
Wishing peace and freedom for the Burmese people and democracy for the Burmese government.
All should be free
Freedom for those who yearn for peace and democracy!
We Chinese say, “I’d rather be dead than not be free.”
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all. If only…
If you are not free, we are not free
I strongly support the freedom of the oppressed in Burma, Palestine, and Zimbabwe. May God bless them and strike those who oppress them.
Freedom to the people of Burma now! Many people are dying. Give peace a chance.
Until Burma is free, none of us are
Peace to all Burmese
Freedom for all those living under a dictatorship in Tibet, Cuba. Zimbabwe, North Korea, China and many other places in the world. God bless them all.
I am saddened by the continuous burden of fellow human beings imprisoned and I am ashamed I’ve not done more.
“First they cam for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up, because I was Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me.”—Martin Niemoeller [1892-1984] Christ, Moses, Argun, Buddha, Zoaster, Mohammad, all teach ‘care and concern’ for the ‘other.’ How many millions of us would give up our lives if…if those who killed us became so sick of killing that they refused to kill anymore?
Ombak berdebur menempa karang,karang kukuh menahan badai.
Jangan lelah untuk berjuang,pantang mundur kemerdekaan tergapai.
“Salute only to ANG SUN KYI”
Peace and freedom for all Burmese people.
if you are not free, we are not free.
I wished that Than Shwe could write his name on his own palm and say: ‘Even if I appear to be free I am not!’Freedom and peace for all Burmese
Parce que j’ai la chance de vivre dans un pays “libre” et que je n’ose pas imaginer ce que doit être un enfermement seulement parce que l’on n’est pas d’accord avec les dirigeants de son pays.
Lorsque un être est enfermé quelque part dans le monde, je le suis aussi!
I wish that may all be success with peacefully.
With hope…peace and freedom will be in Burma soon.
No person may suffer jail for thinking differences peacefully.
Ninguna persona debe sufrir cárcel por pensar diferente en forma pacífica.
peace to all in burma soon. we all live in hope.
God give hope and freedom for the prisoners anf for Aung San Suu Kyi
How long and why do we have to wait for the legitimate rights of the Burmese people to be acknowledged by some of their own? Why do a few people (in comparison to the large sea of humanity within and outside of Burma) with guns, tanks and money in their hands have to be allowed to run and ruin the fate of a nation and a people for so long? This is not about Aung San Su Kyi necessarily becoming the new leader of a tru;y free Burma (Myanmar), it is about a people being allowed to choose their own leadership and to build their own nation and chart out their own course in history. If this cannot be ensured, why do we have the United Nations, the International Court of Justice, and what is the real intent and weight of the international community at large, especially China?
The Burmese people must be set free, now, and forever and truly democratic elections and institutionalized democracy, rule of a just law, and economic and social progress for the people of Burma must follow, in cooperation with the rest of the world. The international community, led by the Unites States (with China, India, Japan, Australia joining in) and the United Nations must make this clear to the Burmese Junta now. I wish Godspeed!
Set free Burma, and set free the whole world.
We need to go to the street and fight against the evil, i mean politics
Your incarceration has not been in vain. Millions of people know who you are and are inspired by your brave and patient example. You have made a difference to the world.
Hopefully Burma will turn to justice, granting you your rightfully freedom. impressively strong and brave example you are to the hole world waiting for you to be set free.
We must never stop hoping for and working for PEACE and JUSTICE.
may all prisoners of conscience be freed and thanks from us all to them their honesty and integrity in the face of such horror.
Believe that God always helping Good people.so never give up, and be stronger
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you are not alone
A beautiful country like Burma and bueatiful people like the Burmese deserve to be free and enjoy life!!
Good luck to the people of Burma you deserve your freedom!
“the only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear” - Aung San Suu Kyi
I concur totally
Aung San Suu Kyi and all Burmese people show such dignity and strength in the face of adversity and outrageous violation of human rights- the rest of the world must act and act now to ensure basic human rights for these long suffering people.
Hey you, don’t tell me there’s no hope at all.
Together we stand, divided we fall.
Free all political prisoners! Free Burma! Free Free….
please be one family hey our burmese people,than we will get whwt we need,ok?so i request your all,,, please dont diffrent about relegion in burmar,,be one family……ok?thank you so much.
we praying for free all our sisters and brothers who has in the prison,oh god please you free our political prisoners,,,especially u kyaw min (member of crpp)and his family….daw su and all of them…please god.please……
hi my mom su….you are not alone….we all are with you everytime…….
Free all political prisoners
may my Lord be the lord of everyone in burma
Hopefully, there will be an election in 2010 and let’s end this ordeal by bringing military regime down.
I solemnly wish to see peace and democracy in Burma!
Free Aung San Su Kyi and all the political prisoners!
FREE BURMA!
It’s right place right time to free all political prisoners in Burma Now.
It’s time for free Burma. Please don’t vote on 7/11 Military General Election to save Burma. One can make huge different. Change won’t coming automatically unless you make it happen. In order to restore Democracy and Human Right in Burma, we, all walk of life must support & United and collaboration for freedom of people of Burma.Solidarity make ever stronger and people power always topple the Junta sooner rather than later. Let’s walk on till prevail Peace,freedom,Democracy and Human Right in Union of Burma.MTN
May God bless you and your country and keep the military junta from power.Long live Aung San Suu Kyi.God is watching.
Not just democracy, but Human Rights are much more than that.
UN Human Rights Declaration:
ARTICLE 8
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the
fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.
ARTICLE 9
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
ARTICLE 11
1. Everyone charged with a penal offense has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty
according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defense.
2. No one shall be held guilty of any penal offense on account of any act or omission which did not
constitute a penal offense, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offense was committed.
As Burma is violating UN Human Rights Law UN should impose sanctions against Burma.
“Please use your liberty to help us achieve our own” - Aung San Suu Kyi
The Kachin Women’s Association Thailand has reported that between June 10-18,2011 the BURMA ARMY gang-raped 18 Kachin female’s (their ages children to grandmothers). Four killed after the gang-rape. Some husbands were forced to watch. Then forced into slave labour.
PLEASE TELL THE WORLD THE SO-CALLED SITUATION IN BURMA HAS GONE FROM HORRIFIC TO MUCH WORSE THAN HORRIFIC. DECADES LONG CEASE-FIRES HAVE BEEN BROKEN.
So what can you do? Learn. Tell a friend. Pray if that is your thing. You can support: BURMA CAMPAIGN UK. US CAMPAIGN FOR BURMA,
NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY (DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI’S PARTY),
MAE TAO CLINIC, FREE BURMA RANGERS,ALL BURMA MONKS ALLIANCE.
Please help.
In 2007 thousands of peaceful Buddhist monks and nun went to the streets…
and chanted Metta (words of love and kindness). A peaceful revolution the world has never seen.
Those in power sent their soldiers into monasteries and killed and imprisoned peaceful Buddhist monks and nuns.
This should be an outrage for the entire world.
Please help.
Thank you so very much.