Wanted for Opposing the Junta
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Posted in:
Adventure Travel
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| Antonio Graceffo | Nov. 19, 2008 | 9:58 AM |
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Burma’s ruling junta, the SPDC, uses disinformation and modern technology to issues a wanted order against Antonio Graceffo.
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Antonio Graceffo
lives in Asia and writes about adventure-travel and martial arts. He has worked
on productions for The History Channel, Discovery and the BBC.
He has appeared on Digging for the Truth: Angkor Wat and Human
Weapon: Cambodian Blood Sport.
Click on the images
to view
gallery.
A friend who engages in cross-border aid activities in the genocide
afflicted war-zone of Burma sent me this link, click here, which, in Burmese, is
the equivalent of an old wild-west wanted posted, with my photo on it.
If
you click over to the poster, the Burmese characters may not come up on
your computer, unless you have installed the appropriate software. At a
glance, the link appears to be a website of the KNU/KNLA, the ethnic
Karen resistance group, featured in the film, “Rambo IV.” The site
implies that I am wanted by the rebels, which makes no sense, since the
only crime I have committed, if in fact it is a crime, is supporting
the rebels.
I
sent the link to one of the anti-junta groups I am in communication
with, and they verified that it was a proxy site, a fake site, created
by the Burmese SPDC junta, to pass on disinformation and create
disunity and infighting within the resistance groups. Fortunately, most
people working on the Burma
issue don’t trust anything written in Burmese. Each of the tribes has
its own language and alphabet. Most of them are smart enough to use
English on their websites to garner international support. The junta,
it appears, is not that smart. But, since General Ne Win forcibly
closed all of Burma’s
universities, to prevent smart people from meeting and exchanging
political ideas, it is no wonder that they are slipping intellectually.
Of
those few SPDC officials who speak English and know how to use a
computer, many studied abroad. Some studied on developmental
scholarships, paid by foreign governments and aid groups, to help raise
the general education in what was once the richest and best educated
country in southeast Asia. The application procedures, within Burma,
are so stilted that often only junta supporters can apply. The
education freely given to them, to help the people, becomes another
tool of repression against the uneducated and underfed populace.
Here is the translation of the wanted poster. It was prepared by
an exiled Burmese intellectual, who had to flee Burma and seek asylum
in another country. He hates the junta with a passion and supports the
resistance groups.
Translators note: I got your reply, Antonio, that the KNU has cleared your name and so we cannot sell you by the kilo to them.
Translation:
[[article begins; double parentheses [[ ]] are the translators; single parentheses ( ) are the original author's]]
Wanted [[photo of Graceffo]]
Antonia Grace-fawt (former Marine) Italy Citizen
[[no author's name seen]]
The Former Marine Who Would Combine Military Forces with Terrorists.
1-11-2008
To
the armed terrorists of KNU, SSA, KNPP who are based in Thailand's
Chiangmai City and are present along the Thai-Myanmar border -----
[[there is an]] American & 2 other foreigners who are teaching them
Close Combat and how to set up mines and traps.
It
is learned that a former US Marine Italian race, American citizen,
Antonio Grace-fawt and two other foreigners, a total of 3, had finished
discussions with KNU officials about entering and moving around the KNU
2nd Brigade region (Toungoo District).
The
aforementioned Antonio group on (08 October 18) came via Chiangmai to
Mae Sot. At Mae Sot, they met the new General Secretary Naw See Ra Pho
Sein [[I'm just transcribing them phonetically; might not be correct since it is a 2nd or 3rd transliteration]]
KNU
Tactical Commander Saw Beelah Sein, 2nd Brigade Commander Ah See and
discussed about procedures on how to get help from foreign groups and
how to transform the defensive guerilla warfare into
offensive guerilla warfare within the KNU areas. It is learned that
they discussed plans drawn by the KNU, SSA, KNPP Joint Military
Movement Committee and how to put in practice the military tactical
procedures.
[[will
make my own paragraph here. original writer is having verbal diarrhea
and does not appear to know how to make paragraphs]]
KNU 5th Brigade Baw Kyaw Hair [[again, this is just a
transliteration and probably has original errors -- SPDC writers are
notorious for mispronouncing non-Burmese names... take, e.g., your
name]] said
that in the areas under his responsibility, the 5th Brigade area,
(Papun District), the supply routes for weapons and food for 2nd
Brigade had been blocked. He also refused to take responsibility for
the security and safe passage of Antonio Grace-fawt's group if they
travel from 5th Brigade area to 2nd Brigade area.
5th Brigade Commander Baw
Kyaw Hair, on his part, was dissatisfied with how the present congress
has appointed a central group in which General Tamlabaw's sons and
daughters have important posts in the KNU. [[Baw Kyaw Hair's ]] group favors having a ceasefire with the
present military government and exchange arms for peace [[this is an
SPDC phrase for complete surrendering of one's forces and one's weapons
to SPDC -- very indicative of an SPDC author ]]
[[my paragraphing]] Another brigade that is similar in spirit to
Baw Kyaw Hair is 6th Brigade. It is heard that 6th Brigade Commander
Hsarmi is dissatisfied with Tamlabaw's circle of family and friends.
Therefore
Antonio Grace-fawt's group is unable to travel through Baw Kyaw Hair's
area and is making preparations to travel through the Mae Hong Son
KNPP's area to reach 2nd Brigade area. On (22-10-08) Antonio and group
departed from Mae Son [[sic; I think it is a typo]] to Mae Hong Son.
Antonio Grawfawt 's group [[sic, another typo by crazy SPDC author]] is
surely going to have to run and escape for their lives as they go
through the Armed Forces' Offensives [[but ]] it is more certain they
will die violent deaths. [[ i.e., it is more certain they will die violently rather than run and escape with their lives ]]
[[end of article]]
Further translators notes:
It is now evident from the author himself that you were never a
wanted man by the KNU. The article is very poorly written and has
sloppy composition.
I
hear you, Antonio, that you replied it is not true about you meeting
the KNU since on the dates mentioned you were out of country. It is
funny SPDC is making up all these lies.
But why?
"Wanted" does not mean by the KNU. It means Wanted by SPDC but not explicitly mentioned, only by inference.
And
it is not true one faction of KNU hates you. It is just that one
faction is said to be discontent with Tamlabaw and therefore will not
allow you safe passage.
It
is just the age-old SPDC tactics of playing off one brigade commander
against another brigade commander and tempting them to surrender to the
government, thus scoring propaganda and psychological victories and
gradually defeating the KNU.
No faction in KNU hates you, it is only the author who wishes you evil.
Buddha
has been famously quoted about not returning evil for evil. Our Monk
once taught me that if you send me a package [of evil wishes] and I
decline to accept it, then the evil goes back to its sender. Not that I
wish the sender any evil; I just simply will not take it and so the
sender just gets what his Karma dictates.
What
shall we do to protect against the evil efforts of SPDC to discredit
each of us, and set one against the other, and tempt us into
surrendering. Such things have happened time and again, and it appears
the 5th and 6th brigade commanders, if this is true, are wishing to
surrender and that they are discontent with Gen. Tamlabaw.
How
true could this be? If it is not true, is it possible for the enemy to
make it come true and create fear, suspicion, and hatred amongst the
KNU? How do we eliminate this and help unify KNU? Perhaps as outsiders
with no connections to any faction, we can act as mediators and help
make peace. Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall unify the Forces
and Defeat the enemy.
It
is sad that during Gen. Bo Mya's time, his Christian officers were said
to have gotten all the promotions and benefits and the Buddhists did
not fare well. SPDC fanned these flames in the early 90's and by 1994
or 1995 were able to split KNU and form a quisling group, the DKBA ---
which made it possible to find a way to invade the KNU headquarters,
their stronghold, in Manerplaw and conquer that area.
Then,
in the last two years, they were able to splinter off other KNU
commanders, even the Reverend Timothy, who wanted to negotiate a
separate surrender. Now it seems they are working on the 5th and 6th Brigade Commanders.
Oh, God, when and how can we turn the tide?
Antonio Graceffo begs you to please say a prayer for the people of Shan State.
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