Chris Bowen MP

Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Affairs

Parliament House
M1/45
Canberra ACT 2600

Date: 21 October 2010

Dear Minister,

Burmese Community’s Request should be revoked a Performance Visa

to the Military Junta’s Artist Khant Si Thu if a visa already issued to
perform at a Festival in Australia

1. We understand that culture is important to the development of a country

and social values of its people. In that regard, artists can change the thinking
of the people for either good or bad depending on the role they took in public
life.

2. The above-mentioned artist gave the excuse that his role in making of the
film, ‘Aharyone Oo-Hmar Phoo Thi Kyar’ (literally meaning The Budding of the
Lotus at Dawn) was the result of him and other artists being coerced into it by
the regime. The film was mainly a distortion of Burma’s history and the
propaganda to mislead future generations. Whatever the reason, the artist’s
complicity in the making of the film should not be taken lightly as a valid
excuse.

3. It is all under the grand scheme of the military for its perpetuate rule in
Burma. The regime not only has avoided Australian Government’s sanctions
imposed on them and their families by issuing their children passports with
false names in order to study in Australia. They are sending monks, Pastors,
writers, singers and actors as their emissaries to win over the Burmese
community living overseas. Their malicious scheme was exposed in the
United States and the visas of the artists and his colleagues were revoked.
(The press cutting of the matter is attached herewith for your information).

4. Since the visit of this group of artists sympathetic to the military is nothing
but the source of division and instability among the Burmese community living
overseas, we would like to request the Minister that a performing visa or a
visa of any category should not be issued and if a visa of any kind has already
issued, should be revoked in accordance with the Migration Act of Australia
for future.

5. To our knowledge, the above-mentioned artist was invited to perform at the

festival to be held at Marrickville Town Hall in Sydney.

With regards,

88 Generation Students in Australia.

Contact: Soe Lwin 0412 387 263
Tin Myint 0412 908 322
Ni Tun 0414 218 129
Lin Aung 0412 016 350
Toe Toe 0402 438 145
Soe Soe Oo 0416 207 825
Nyi Nyi Soe 0430 494 928

Email: soelwinsydney2010@gmail.com

Copy to: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Embassy of the United States, Canberra, Australia