Chittagong: Long March activists reached Chittagong, the second largest city of Bangladesh, on Thursday, nine days after starting their march on 27 March, 2008, on a revolution day of Burma.Ashion U Thilawantha, who is leading the group, said, "We arrived at Chittagong yesterday evening and a few Arakanese and Bangladeshi people welcomed us into the town. Some Bangladeshi journalists came to the entrance gate to cover our activities."
The march has received the attention of Bangladeshis, with many following the marchers journey with interest.
"We went to a journalist club in Chittagong to explain why we are conducting the Long March, and we also explained the present situation of Burma. Many journalists got the chance to learn about the present in Burma during the brief explanation of the situation," said U Thila Wantha.
The Long March is intended to attract the attention of the Bangladeshi people as well as the international community to the upcoming referendum for the new draft constitution, which is scheduled to be held in Burma in May 2008.
The campaigners on the march oppose the upcoming referendum as the Burmese military government excluded democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from participating in any future elections, and the draft constitution also does not grant equal rights to the non-Burman ethnic minorities.
The long march activists will leave today for Cox's Bazar, a border town of Bangladesh near Burma. They will have to walk another seven or eight days to reach the border town, which is the final destination of their march.
Many Arakanese communities in Cox's Bazar are preparing a welcoming ceremony for the activists when they arrive at the town.
1 comment:
Is Anybody following our dear Monks? I cannot find anything on the Bangladeshi news... Thanks...
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