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Thousands of miles away from Stanton across the Pacific Ocean, Burmese people are being snatched up in the night by a brutal military regime.

Theyre being beaten, shot dead and slaughtered in the streets as they demand democracy, freedom and justice after the military overthrew and detained a civilian Burmese government earlier this year.

The atrocities hit close to home for some in Orange County and in Los Angeles especially the Burmese American community who watch in worry as the number of dead bodies pile up over there for the freedoms they have here in the U.S.

They put martial law and theyre shooting people. Theres about more than 600 people that have been killed throughout Burma, said Banny Hong, the owner of Taste of Burma restaurant in Stanton on Friday.

They arrest. They torture. Theres a lot of dead bodies.

Hong organized a rally at Stanton city hall today with help from Republican Mayor David Shawver to bring awareness to the vicious military crackdown on peaceful protesters, activists and civilians willing to die for democracy in Burma a struggle that has been going on for decades.

[ Read: Santana: Meet The Orange County Restaurant Owner Who is Trying To Stop The Burmese Killing Fields ]

The country was renamed Myanmar by the military in the late 80s following the killing of thousands who protested for democracy.

Hong and other Orange County residents like Sonny Wynn have called on elected officials to help the Burmese people in their fight for democracy.

Even if we are outside of Burma, our minds are always flying back to our country, especially in this situation, Wynn said in a phone interview after the rally.

Wynn said the military has taken control of the economy and is calling on the world to stop business with Burma until a new government is in place.

Dont give the business to the military government. We need to cut their oxygen line, he said.

Orange County Elected Officials Call Out Military Regime

Shawver said democracy in Burma must be restored.

There have been too many lives lost and families destroyed. It is our responsibility for all of us to protect human rights of the people around the world, he said.

Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a House resolution HRes 134, which condemned the coup and HR 1122, legislation which sets up a framework for a State Department report on the coup as well as plans to seek consequences for the perpetrators.

All Orange County Congressmembers voted in favor of condemning the coup including Congressman Lou Correa from Santa Ana.

In an interview before the rally Correa said if the U.S. military didnt pledge to follow civil authorities Wed have Myanmar today here following the Capitol attacks.

Those people that are fighting for democracy need to see that we here in America care, that we are watching and the only way the military there will listen is if we make them listen, he said. Our message to these dictators is we are not going to look the other way.

We are watching.

Correa also spoke at the rally along with a couple of Orange County City Council members. A representative spoke on behalf of Congresswoman Young Kim .

The actions taken by the Tatmadaw in overthrowing the democratically elected government, cracking down on peaceful protesters, and killing dozens if not hundreds of its own people on the streets is deplorable, horrific and wrong, the representative said reading a statement from Kim.

Burmese Americans Stand in Solidarity With the Fight for Democracy

A huge crowd of people from places as far as San Francisco came out to show their support for the protesters. Many holding signs condemning the military and wearing red in honor of the National League of Democracy the ruling political party in Burma that was ousted by the military last month.

The crowds sang Burmese revolutionary songs and chanted for democracy raising three fingers in the air symbolizing justice equality and freedom. Religious leaders lead a prayer for the country.

Speakers called the Myanmar Military terrorists.

They have been using submachine guns, said Dr. Kyaw Moe, from the Burmese American Medical Association who spoke at the rally.

(Its) as if they have been fighting against another Armed Forces like they have been fighting against Al Qaeda or ISIS or Taliban forces.

They are fighting peaceful protesters.

Moe shared the history of the struggle and fight for democracy in the South East Asian country and how time and time again the military responded with extreme violence.

He added that tens of millions have taken to the streets to peacefully protest the coup and describe the brutal military retaliation including pouring acid down the mouths of people.

UCLA Student Thet Lin Tun, President of the Burmese Student Association as his school echoed his sentiments.

The youth of Myanmar are united as one against the inhumane military terrorists, he said, receiving a loud cheer from the crowd.

Lin Tun said that youth should be cramming for exams, hanging out with friends, supporting their parents and to laugh and enjoy life.

Instead theyre on the frontlines spending every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears to protect and save their country and their future. Theyre coming up with all sorts of creative tactics to resist the Myanmar military terrorists, refusing to bend to the terrorists illegitimate rule.

They are arrested, injured, tortured, killed, and defiled, for fighting for their freedoms and basic human rights, determined not to let the military take them all away again, he said.

The crowd cheered again.

We need the support and solidarity of the international community to do everything in their power to support us and to make sure that we are not alone in our struggle for democracy, Lin Tun said.

Hong said on Friday that Generation Z is leading the charge for democracy.

They know democracy, they know freedom and they cant stand the coup, Hong said.

He added that Americans and Burmese people believe in some of the same values.

Even though its a different country we believe in the same democracy and freedom.

Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC Reporting Fellow. Contact him at helattar@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @ElattarHosam.

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Community Rallies to Support the Burmese Fight For Democracy Against a Violent Military Regime - Voice of OC

Liberal democracy representation, the rule of law, and human rights is the foundation of the trans-Atlantic alliance and a rules-based international order. The Biden administration has placed democracy at the heart of its policy agenda; in the words of its March 2021 Interim National Security Strategic Guidance, Democracy is essential to meeting all the challenges of our changing world. Yet democracy is under threat worldwide from populists and rising authoritarian powers.

Still, civil societies continue to fight for their rights. In Belarus, a pro-democracy movement led by teacher-turned-presidential-candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is bravely protesting the fraudulent August 2020 election, despite violent repression by the government of Alexander Lukashenko.

On March 26, as part of the seventh annual Justice Stephen Breyer Lecture on International Law, Foreign Policy at Brookings will host Tsikhanouskaya for a keynote address that examines democracy and human rights in Belarus. Afterwards, senior fellow and Fritz Stern chair Constanze Stelzenmller will join Tsikhanouskaya for a conversation on how the United States and Europe should support democracy in Belarus and the surrounding region. A panel discussion on protecting democracy from both sides of the Atlantic will follow their conversation.

Viewers can submit questions by emailingevents@brookings.eduor on Twitter using#Democracy.

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Defending democracy against its adversaries - Brookings Institution

By STEVE ERKENBRACK

If you meander along the highways and byways of New England, you will notice a common feature in many villages that date to the colonial era: the center of each community is marked by a town square, typically punctuated by an old church or meeting house. This is for neither traffic control nor aesthetics; rather, it was the site for public decision-making, established by the pilgrims when they landed four centuries ago.

Communal decisions were not to be made by lords or landed gentry, as in Old England; they were to be made by the everyday folks who comprise the community. They gathered and groused, discussed and decided.

Grand Junction continues this time-honored American experience these days as we select from our neighbors who have stepped forward and offered to serve us on our City Council. If you tend to take this phenomenon for granted, just consider what is happening on the other side of the globe where citizens in Myanmar, Moscow, and Hong Kong are gassed, arrested, or shot in their efforts to have people control the government, not vice versa.

While pondering this contemporary lesson in liberty, we might note the three things that make this both possible and meaningful.

The Candidates

In an era of social media rants and tweets, its admirable that people have the courage to run for public office. Eight candidates have offered to serve the rest of us, and they deserve our appreciation. Ive run for local office four times, three times successfully as district attorney, and one time not-so-successfully for the state Legislature. It requires an intense personal commitment of time, effort, and focus. Each of these citizens could like the rest of us spend an evening browsing a book, streaming a show, or sipping a beer with a friend. Instead, they have spent hours learning the issues from skating rinks to swimming pools, toking to taxation. They may differ in style, background, or vision, but they all share a commitment to make this community a better place.

In any election, half the candidates go home disappointed, and rejection hurts, especially after pouring your heart into an effort. So, if you bump into one of these brave neighbors, regardless of how you are going to vote, take a moment to thank them. Abe, Dennis, Greg, Jody, Kraig, Mark, Rick and Randall are the next generation of the spirit of liberty that was born in those New England town squares centuries ago, the next tiles in the American mosaic.

The Coverage

Recognizing the risk of accusations of bias (since this paper periodically publishes my perspectives on politics, law, and history), local media is also an essential component of grassroots democracy. Months ago, as candidates declared their interest, most of us did not know most of them. This newspapers reporters outlined key issues, and then gave each candidate the chance to present his message in his own way, not spinning stories to fit a publishers preconceived agenda. News was clearly differentiated from the opinions reflected on the editorial page.

Much has been said of both fake news and the demise of local media, and these are truly topics for concern, especially when national media colors the news with its views, and when social media uses artificial intelligence to feed us topics selected to make us happy, not to make us think. Local newspapers are at the forefront of trying to provide us the facts, and letting us reach our own conclusions.

The Community

Having been born in Washington, D.C., and moving about every three years as the youngest son in a Navy family, I never really had a hometown as a kid. So, when my wife and I settled in Grand Junction as a young couple in 1979, we were looking for more than just jobs; we were looking for a community. And did we ever find it.

Our current municipal election is but the latest iteration of this community collectively addressing its issues, with differences that dont degenerate into denigration. Out of that spirit have come countless public servants and extraordinary accomplishments like the our downtown, the Riverfront Trail, Lincoln Park, Little League, Las Colonias, museums, and theaters. Perhaps the culmination of this spirit is the you-gotta-live-here-to-believe-it phenomenon of JUCO or the transformation of higher education at Colorado Mesa University. None of these accomplishments were without discussion and dissension; we are a scrappy lot. But we pull together through trial, tragedy or triumph. We get hit with a pandemic, we hit back with a 5-Star program to lead the state in keeping our local businesses open.

There is much that can divide us, especially when topics turn to national events. But here, in the shadow of the Grand Mesa, this community has been built brick by brick. The newest bricks will be laid over the next two weeks with our new City Council, selected by you and your neighbors, in this quintessentially American demonstration of democracy, which the people in Myanmar would die for ... and are. Savor this privilege. Vote. It is the key leg of the tripod that is liberty.

Steve ErkenBrack is an attorney in Western Colorado, where he settled in 1979. Over the years, he has served as a trial attorney, as the elected District Attorney, as a health insurance CEO, and as Colorados Chief Deputy Attorney General. He is currently Of Counsel at Hoskin, Farina & Kampf in Grand Junction.

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The Tripod of Democracy | Columns | gjsentinel.com - The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel

President Bill Clinton will join former U.S. Rep.Steve IsraelonMarch 18 at 5 p.m. for a conversation about the future of democracyin America, followed by a reaction by a small panel of Cornell experts.

The program launches the new Milstein State of Democracy Addresses and will include questions from undergraduate students and an introduction by Bob Harrison 76, chairman of the Board of Trustees at Cornell University and CEO of the Clinton Global Initiative.

Clinton and Israel will delve into the challenges faced by democracies today and what can be done to strengthen Americas democratic norms for future generations. Israel is the inaugural director of the Institute of Politics and Global Affairs, a professor of practice in government in the College of Arts and Sciences, and a former Democratic congressman from New York.

Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States, was the first Democratic president elected twice in six decades. He led the U.S. to the longest economic expansion in American history, including the creation of more than 22 million jobs. After leaving the White House, he became founder and chairman of the Clinton Foundation, an organization known for global health, community resilience, economic development and environmental protection. The Clinton Global Initiative University engages the next generation of leaders on college campuses to devise solutions and take action to address pressing challenges in their community.

Clinton served as the top United Nations envoy for the Indian Ocean tsunami recovery effort and the U.N. special envoy to Haiti. He has partnered numerous times with fellow Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush to support relief efforts for communities devastated by natural disasters.

Immediately following the conversation with Clinton, a panel reaction will include insights from:

We're excited to host President Clinton at Cornell, especiallyas we launch our new Campaign for the Future of Democracy, Israel said.Its of vital interest that we understand the state of democracy in Americaand the world at such aperilous moment.We hope that everyone who attends the program understands their role in ensuring the future of democracy.

Hosted by theInstitute of Politics and Global Affairs, part ofGlobal Cornell, the virtual event is open to the Cornell community.Registration is required.

This event is sponsored by the Howard and Abby Milstein Foundation and marks the first event in the Milstein State of Democracy Address series. The event is also supported by The Larry and Judy Tanenbaum Distinguished Speakers Fellowship of Sigma Phi.

Jessica Ames is program and communications coordinator for the Institute of Politics and Global Affairs.

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President Clinton to speak on the future of US democracy | Cornell Chronicle - Cornell Chronicle

Scores of people have been injured and arrested in the Thai capital after police used water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets to break up a rally by pro-democracy protesters calling for the release of detained activists, constitutional changes and reform of the nations monarchy.

The rally outside Bangkoks grand palace was a continuation of student-led protests that began last year and have rattled Thailands traditional establishment, which is fiercely opposed to change, especially with regard to the monarchy.

The organisers of the rally had said they planned to have demonstrators throw paper planes with messages over the palace walls.

The demonstrators, who numbered close to 1,000, managed to break through a barrier made of shipping containers outside the ceremonial palace stacked two high.

Police behind the containers responded first with warnings and then by shooting water cannons and rubber bullets. Police drove the crowd back and while skirmishes continued, the crowds appeared to have dissipated by 10pm.

The citys emergency medical service Erawan reported 33 people, including 13 police, were injured by rubber bullets, rocks and tear gas. At least two reporters were hit by rubber bullets. Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, a watchdog, reported 32 detained.

During the skirmishes, protesters tossed smoke bombs and giant firecrackers at police, and also splashed a royal portrait with paint, but failed in an attempt to set it on fire, though they did burn tires and trash at several locations.

Police deputy spokesman, Col Kissana Phathanacharoen, said police had warned in advance that the rally was illegal. He said in addition to throwing various objects, protesters used slingshots to fire nuts and bolts at police and hit them with metal rods. He said police had used water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets according to proper procedures.

The rally was called by Redem, a faction of a broader protest movement last year that started with three core demands: the resignation of the prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and his government, for the constitution to be amended to make it more democratic and the monarchy to be reformed to make it more accountable.

Redem, which stands for Restart Democracy, claims to have no leaders and holds online voting to decide on rally dates and activities.

The movement sharpened its campaign to focus on the monarchy, and Thailands lese majeste law, which makes criticising, insulting or defaming the king and some other senior royals punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The monarchy has long been treated as a sacred institution in Thailand and public criticism is not only illegal, but has long been considered socially unacceptable. Many people still revere the monarchy and the military, a major power in Thai society, considers defense of the monarchy as a key priority.

As protesters last year stepped up criticism of the monarchy, the government responded by charging outspoken protesters under the lese majeste law, and over the last month, eight of them were jailed pending trial.

The movement was able to attract crowds of as many as 20,000-30,000 people in Bangkok in 2020 and had followings in major cities and universities. However, a new coronavirus outbreak late last year caused it to temporarily suspend activities, and it lost momentum.

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Thailand protests: scores injured as police clash with pro-democracy activists - The Guardian