Jeremy Taylor is on a mission. He wants to make a difference in the lives of the oppressed in Burma.
“There are 90,000 child soldiers in Burma. That’s more than any other country on earth,” explains Taylor to me via an email interview this past week. “Over 3,500 villages have been destroyed in Burma. That’s more than in Darfur. War crimes and crimes against humanity are happening today in Burma.”
Taylor first became involved in this cause after reading, in 2006, about how the country’s legitimately elected leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest at the hands of the military regime, was unable to leave the country to visit her dying husband in England. “If she leaves, Burma’s military government won’t let her back in.
“She sacrificed her family for her country. That’s when she became my hero. Daw Suu Kyi is an amazing woman. She’s the only Nobel Peace Prize Laureate under arrest,” explains Taylor.
He would go on to become Executive Director of the New York-based Free Burma Alliance (FBA), a coalition of human rights and humanitarian relief organizations dedicated to bringing freedom to the ill-treated and oppressed people of Burma, “especially the children.”
Perhaps the largest impediment to bringing change to Burma is awareness—it’s a situation happening far away and out of the conscious of every day life. Taylor put his heart and talents into broadening awareness by making an award-winning documentary entitled “Burma: An Indictment.”
Shot on location, capturing both the macro situation as well as personal stories of abuse and suffering, the film mixes historical context, shocking footage of the plight of the oppressed, and compelling interviews with Burmese civilians, monks, and human rights defenders. The film would go on to win Best Documentary at the SOHO Int'l Film Festival 2010, and the REMI Winner at the WorldFest-Houston International Film Fest 2010. The film’s next festival entry will be this Saturday at VisionFest, where it will be screened at the Tribeca Cinemas at 7 p.m.
CONTINUED on Page 2...
[xtypo_dropcap]W[/xtypo_dropcap]atching the film and seeing the extent of the suffering, one can only begin to grasp the level of greed and corruption employed by the military regime’s control. “It’s a real shame. Burma has the largest reserves of gas in Southeast Asia—she’s rich in rubies and jadeite, but Burma is the poorest country outside of Africa. Senior General Than Shwe and his cohorts are plundering Burma’s wealth for themselves.”
The film coherently explains the historical background of how Burma was a peaceful democracy after gaining independence from Britain following World War II. However, in 1962, a military general staged a coup and established the ruling junta, effectively ending freedom and legitimate democracy in the country.
“Every time Burma’s people and clergy march in the street seeking democracy, freedom, and human rights, they get gunned down. The junta doesn’t care if they shoot thousands and thousands of people dead. They’ve done it before; they'll do it again. The people know it. They’re living in fear. They’re terrified.”
Like in other areas of the world where totalitarian regimes are able to operate, one must look to the country’s backers and follow the money trail. “China has the most influence over Burma. China keeps the junta off the U.N. Security Council agenda. China’s government has a sweetheart deal with Burma’s Than Shwe for Burma’s gas. China’s building a pipeline through Burma to Yunnan Province.”
When asked what an average person can do to help, Taylor encouraged people to go to his organization’s website: www.freeburmaalliance.org. Here you can learn more about the situation in Burma to share with others, sign a petition, and donate to the cause. “Ninety-five U.S. dollars provides one Burmese child with food, school supplies, and shelter for one year at the NLD-LA child compound,” says Taylor.
You can also watch “Burma, an Indictment” this Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick Street, as part of the VisionFest Film Festival. For more information, visit VisionFest.com.
“There are 90,000 child soldiers in Burma. That’s more than any other country on earth,” explains Taylor to me via an email interview this past week. “Over 3,500 villages have been destroyed in Burma. That’s more than in Darfur. War crimes and crimes against humanity are happening today in Burma.”
Taylor first became involved in this cause after reading, in 2006, about how the country’s legitimately elected leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest at the hands of the military regime, was unable to leave the country to visit her dying husband in England. “If she leaves, Burma’s military government won’t let her back in.
“She sacrificed her family for her country. That’s when she became my hero. Daw Suu Kyi is an amazing woman. She’s the only Nobel Peace Prize Laureate under arrest,” explains Taylor.
He would go on to become Executive Director of the New York-based Free Burma Alliance (FBA), a coalition of human rights and humanitarian relief organizations dedicated to bringing freedom to the ill-treated and oppressed people of Burma, “especially the children.”
Perhaps the largest impediment to bringing change to Burma is awareness—it’s a situation happening far away and out of the conscious of every day life. Taylor put his heart and talents into broadening awareness by making an award-winning documentary entitled “Burma: An Indictment.”
Shot on location, capturing both the macro situation as well as personal stories of abuse and suffering, the film mixes historical context, shocking footage of the plight of the oppressed, and compelling interviews with Burmese civilians, monks, and human rights defenders. The film would go on to win Best Documentary at the SOHO Int'l Film Festival 2010, and the REMI Winner at the WorldFest-Houston International Film Fest 2010. The film’s next festival entry will be this Saturday at VisionFest, where it will be screened at the Tribeca Cinemas at 7 p.m.
CONTINUED on Page 2...
[xtypo_dropcap]W[/xtypo_dropcap]atching the film and seeing the extent of the suffering, one can only begin to grasp the level of greed and corruption employed by the military regime’s control. “It’s a real shame. Burma has the largest reserves of gas in Southeast Asia—she’s rich in rubies and jadeite, but Burma is the poorest country outside of Africa. Senior General Than Shwe and his cohorts are plundering Burma’s wealth for themselves.”
The film coherently explains the historical background of how Burma was a peaceful democracy after gaining independence from Britain following World War II. However, in 1962, a military general staged a coup and established the ruling junta, effectively ending freedom and legitimate democracy in the country.
“Every time Burma’s people and clergy march in the street seeking democracy, freedom, and human rights, they get gunned down. The junta doesn’t care if they shoot thousands and thousands of people dead. They’ve done it before; they'll do it again. The people know it. They’re living in fear. They’re terrified.”
Like in other areas of the world where totalitarian regimes are able to operate, one must look to the country’s backers and follow the money trail. “China has the most influence over Burma. China keeps the junta off the U.N. Security Council agenda. China’s government has a sweetheart deal with Burma’s Than Shwe for Burma’s gas. China’s building a pipeline through Burma to Yunnan Province.”
When asked what an average person can do to help, Taylor encouraged people to go to his organization’s website: www.freeburmaalliance.org. Here you can learn more about the situation in Burma to share with others, sign a petition, and donate to the cause. “Ninety-five U.S. dollars provides one Burmese child with food, school supplies, and shelter for one year at the NLD-LA child compound,” says Taylor.
You can also watch “Burma, an Indictment” this Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick Street, as part of the VisionFest Film Festival. For more information, visit VisionFest.com.
