U Gambira
Encyclopedia
U Sandawbartha, commonly known by his pseudonym of U Gambira, (born 19 June, 1979), is an imprisoned leader of the All-Burma Monks' Alliance, a group which helped lead the 2007 Burmese anti-government protests
.
U Gambira started his schooling at age five, but this schooling was interrupted following the 1988 pro-democracy protests
. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners
, he ran away from home at age 12 and was recruited as a child soldier by a military unit in Yangon
. Once his parents located him, they removed him from the unit and returned to their home of Pauk Township. When the authorities came to investigate, U Gambira's parents enrolled him in a local monastery, fearing for his continued safety.
U Gambira first became well-known in August 2007, when high fuel and commodity prices in Yangon
, Burma sparked a series of city-wide protests. The city's Buddhist monk
s took on a leadership role in these demonstrations, forming the All-Burma Monks' Alliance and lending the uprising its nickname of "the Saffron Revolution", after the color of the monks' robes. U Gambira, a 29-year-old monk, became one of the new organization's leaders.
Following the protests, he went into hiding. His brother Aung Kyaw Kyaw was arrested on 17 October, on what the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners believes to be an attempt by the government to force U Gambira out of hiding. On 4 November, he published editorials in the Washington Post and The Guardian
calling for the international community to continue sanctions against Burma's leadership, for Russia
and China
to cease supporting the SPDC
on the United Nations Security Council
, and for Burma's people to continue to peacefully protest against the military rulers. "The regime's use of mass arrests, murder, torture and imprisonment has failed to extinguish our desire for the freedom that was stolen from us so many years ago. We have taken their best punch", he wrote in the Post.
The same day, he was arrested in Sagaing Region; his father was arrested as well and held for one month in Mandalay prison
. Human Rights Watch
reports that U Gambira was stripped of his robes and "badly tortured" following his arrest.
In April 2008, U Gambira's sister reported that he was leading a mettā
chanting campaign among other imprisoned monks of Insein Prison
to protest against their being issued "layperson" identification cards for the upcoming constitutional referendum.
In October 2008, U Gambira's lawyer, Aung Thein, resigned from his case, saying that the military government would not allow him the materials to prepare an adequate defense. On one occasion, U Gambira refused to appear in court himself, stating that the trial of a forcibly-disrobed monk is disrespectful to Buddhism
. In November, U Gambira was sentenced to 68 years in prison, at least 12 years of which will be hard labor; other charges against him are still pending. In early 2009, his sentence was reduced to 63 years. His sentence was protested by Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International
considers him a prisoner of conscience
. Both groups have called for his immediate release.
U Gambira is believed to be currently in a labor camp in Sagaing Region. When his mother visited him in early 2009, she reported that he was on hunger strike
in protest of the conditions of his confinement. Amnesty International reports that he suffers from nervous tension and is in generally ill health.
U Gambira won the 2008 Bindmans Law and Campaigning Award in absentia at the 2008 Index on Censorship
Freedom of Expression Awards.
2007 Burmese anti-government protests
The 2007 Burmese anti-government protests were a series of anti-government protests that started in Burma on 15 August 2007...
.
U Gambira started his schooling at age five, but this schooling was interrupted following the 1988 pro-democracy protests
8888 Uprising
The 8888 Nationwide Popular Pro-Democracy Protests was a series of marches, demonstrations, protests, and riots in the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma...
. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners
Assistance Association of Political Prisoners is an independent non-profit organisation founded by Burmese former political prisoners living in exile...
, he ran away from home at age 12 and was recruited as a child soldier by a military unit in Yangon
Yangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
. Once his parents located him, they removed him from the unit and returned to their home of Pauk Township. When the authorities came to investigate, U Gambira's parents enrolled him in a local monastery, fearing for his continued safety.
U Gambira first became well-known in August 2007, when high fuel and commodity prices in Yangon
Yangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
, Burma sparked a series of city-wide protests. The city's Buddhist monk
Bhikkhu
A Bhikkhu or Bhikṣu is an ordained male Buddhist monastic. A female monastic is called a Bhikkhuni Nepali: ). The life of Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis is governed by a set of rules called the patimokkha within the vinaya's framework of monastic discipline...
s took on a leadership role in these demonstrations, forming the All-Burma Monks' Alliance and lending the uprising its nickname of "the Saffron Revolution", after the color of the monks' robes. U Gambira, a 29-year-old monk, became one of the new organization's leaders.
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
calling for the international community to continue sanctions against Burma's leadership, for Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
to cease supporting the SPDC
State Peace and Development Council
The State Peace and Development Council was the official name of the military regime of Burma , which seized power in 1988. On 30 March 2011, Senior General Than Shwe signed a decree to officially dissolve the Council....
on the United Nations Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
, and for Burma's people to continue to peacefully protest against the military rulers. "The regime's use of mass arrests, murder, torture and imprisonment has failed to extinguish our desire for the freedom that was stolen from us so many years ago. We have taken their best punch", he wrote in the Post.
The same day, he was arrested in Sagaing Region; his father was arrested as well and held for one month in Mandalay prison
Mandalay
Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region ....
. Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
reports that U Gambira was stripped of his robes and "badly tortured" following his arrest.
In April 2008, U Gambira's sister reported that he was leading a mettā
Metta
Mettā or maitrī is loving-kindness, friendliness, benevolence, amity, friendship, good will, kindness, love, sympathy, close mental union , and active interest in others. It is one of the ten pāramīs of the Theravāda school of Buddhism, and the first of the four sublime states...
chanting campaign among other imprisoned monks of Insein Prison
Insein Prison
Insein Prison is located in Yangon Division, near Yangon , the old capital of Myanmar. It is run by the military junta of Myanmar, the State Peace and Development Council, and used largely to repress political dissidents....
to protest against their being issued "layperson" identification cards for the upcoming constitutional referendum.
Burmese constitutional referendum, 2008
A constitutional referendum was held in Burma on 10 May 2008 according to an announcement by the State Peace and Development Council in February 2008. According to the military government, the new Constitution of Burma will ensure the creation of a "discipline-flourishing democracy"...
In October 2008, U Gambira's lawyer, Aung Thein, resigned from his case, saying that the military government would not allow him the materials to prepare an adequate defense. On one occasion, U Gambira refused to appear in court himself, stating that the trial of a forcibly-disrobed monk is disrespectful to Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
. In November, U Gambira was sentenced to 68 years in prison, at least 12 years of which will be hard labor; other charges against him are still pending. In early 2009, his sentence was reduced to 63 years. His sentence was protested by Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
considers him a prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience is a term defined in Peter Benenson's 1961 article "The Forgotten Prisoners" often used by the human rights group Amnesty International. It can refer to anyone imprisoned because of their race, religion, or political views...
. Both groups have called for his immediate release.
U Gambira is believed to be currently in a labor camp in Sagaing Region. When his mother visited him in early 2009, she reported that he was on hunger strike
Hunger strike
A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Most hunger strikers will take liquids but not...
in protest of the conditions of his confinement. Amnesty International reports that he suffers from nervous tension and is in generally ill health.
U Gambira won the 2008 Bindmans Law and Campaigning Award in absentia at the 2008 Index on Censorship
Index on Censorship
Index on Censorship is a campaigning publishing organisation for freedom of expression, which produces an award-winning quarterly magazine of the same name from London. The present chief executive of Index on Censorship, since 2008, is the author, broadcaster and commentator John Kampfner, former...
Freedom of Expression Awards.