For Immediate Release: January 7th, 2005
Contact: Jeremy Woodrum and Aung Din at 202-223-0300,
202-246-7924, and 301-602-0077

PUBLIC CALL FOR DONATIONS AND
SUPPORT

(Washington,
DC) The United States Campaign for Burma (USCB)
today issued a public request to friends of
Burma around the world to help Burmese tsunami
victims in Thailand. Many Burmese migrants in
Thailand are ineligible for much of the official
aid due to their tenuous legal standing. Two
Thailand-based organizations, the Human Rights
Education Institute of Burma (HREIB) and the
National Health and Education Committee (NHEC),
are assisting Burmese migrant worker communities
at Ban Bin beach near Ranong in southern Thailand
and Tamala Village on Phuket Island, two of
the most affected areas in Thailand. USCB is
mobilizing assistance and collecting funds from
the overseas Burmese community and other caring
individuals to support this effort.

According to a report the HREIB issued yesterday,
many migrant workers from Burma living in the
coastal areas of southern Thailand between Phuket
and Ranong have been hit hard by the tsunami.
There are no official figures on dead and/or
missing Burmese migrant workers, but Thai newspapers
cite a figure of 800 Burmese dead. The HREIB
now uses a figure of between 700 - 1,000 dead.
As of January 6, 2004, HREIB had documented
a list of 145 dead, collected directly from
eyewitnesses and relatives.

“Most Burmese that were affected by the
tsunami were either working at construction
sites along the coast, as fishermen, in factories
along the coast, at rubber plantations along
the coats, in dockyards, and in the tourist
industry. After the disaster most Burmese that
were affected spread to different areas in small
groups. They have received little or no emergency
supplies from the official Thai relief program,”
the report says.

This weekend, the US Campaign for Burma is organizing
Burmese communities and friends of Burma to
pray for and assist Burmese tsunami victims
at fundraising events at two churches, six Buddhist
Monasteries, and two residences across the USA.
The events will be held in Washington, DC, New
York, Fort Wayne (IN), San Francisco, Los Angeles
and Tempe (AZ).

100% OF THE FUNDS RAISED WILL GO TO SUPPORT
THE RELIEF EFFORT.

Event locations are listed below. Checks can
be made payable to “US Campaign for Burma”
with “Fund for Burmese Tsunami Victims
in Thailand” in the memo field. Alternately,
people may donate through the USCB webpage at
www.uscampaignforburma.org . BE SURE TO NOTE
that donation is for the tsunami survivors.

US Campaign for Burma
“Fund for Burmese Tsunami Victims in Thailand”
1612 K Street, NW, Suite 401
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: 202-223-0300
www.uscampaignforburma.org
info@uscampaignforburma.org

####

LOCATION OF EVENTS
ACROSS THE UNITED STATES THIS WEEKEND - JANUARY
7th - 9TH, 2005

For
more information please contact USCB

Washington,
DC

Burmese
community in Greater Washington Area, including
Maryland and
Virginia will hold a merit making ceremony.

Venue:
Mingala Rama Vihara
1708 Powder Mill Road, Silver Spring, MD 20903
Time and Date:
9:00 AM-12:00 PM, Sunday, January 9, 2005
Contact:
U Tin Maung Thaw (703-723- 4855), Ko Yin Htwe
(301-585-1809)

Fort
Wayne, Indiana

Burmese
community in Fort Wayne, IN will hold a merit
making ceremony.

Venue:
Jaytawon Monastery
1204 Xlyvia Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46816
Time and Date:
11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Sunday, January 9, 2005
Contact:
Ko Nyein Chan Oo (260-704-0242), Ko Chit Kyi
(260-433-3610)

San
Francisco, CA

Burmese
community in San Francisco, CA will hold a merit
making ceremony.

Venue:
Mettanada Vihara
4619 Central Ave, Fremont, CA 94536-6606
Time and Date:
11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Sunday, January 9, 2005
Contact:
Ko Htain Linn (415-531-3761), Ko Kyaw Aung Lwin
(415-806-4284)

Los
Angeles, CA (three venues, two dates)

Burmese
communities in Los Angeles, CA will hold merit
making ceremonies.

Venue:
Home of Dr. Aung Khin
1416 East, Santa Ana Street, Anehein, CA 91805
Time and Date:
10:00 AM- 1:00 PM, Friday, January 7, 2005
Contact:
Dr. Aung Khin (714-609-4526)

Venue:
Buddhist Monastery
4436 Walnut Street, Baldwin Park, CA 91706
Time and Date:
7:00 AM-9:00 PM, Sunday, January 9, 2005
Contact:
U Mya Win (661-803-5975), U Khin Maung Shwe
(626-458- 8109)

Venue:
Home of U Khin Maung Shwe
1040 S. Second St., Alhambra, CA 91801
Time and Date:
11:00 AM- 2:00 PM, Sunday, January 9, 2005
Contact:
U Mya Win (661-803-5975), U Khin Maung Shwe
(626-458- 8109)

New
York City (three venues)

Burmese
community and friends of Burma in New York City
will hold a merit making ceremony and prayer
services.

Venue:
Queens Myanmar Monastery
35-49, 72nd St. First Floor, Jackson Height,
New York, NY 11372
organized by the Burma
Point
Time and Date:
7:00 AM-9:00 AM, Sunday, January 9, 2005
Contact:
Ko Aung (917-607-6182), Ko Moe Chan (646-643-8689)

Venue:
St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church
210 West 31st St., New York, NY 10001 (near
Madison Square Garden)
Time and Date:
1:30 PM- 3:30 PM, Sunday, January 9, 2005
Contact:
Ma Sandi (917-445-9222), Ko Khin Aung Tint (917-291-9861),

Kathleen Didomenico (212-365-4155)

Venue:
Myanmar Baptist Church
87-37 Whitney Ave, Elmhurst, New York, NY 11373
Time and Date:
12:00- 3:00 PM, Sunday, January 9, 2005
Contact:
Nant Kay Khine (917-291-9862)

Tempe,
Arizona

Burmese
community and friends of Burma inTempe, AZ will
hold a merit making ceremony.

Venue:
Arizona Meditation Center
1651 E. Manhattan Dr., Tempe, AZ 85282
Time and Date:
11:00 AM- 1:00 PM, Sunday, January 9, 2005
Contact:
U Win Kyaw (480-893-0953), Raymond Chu (480-922-3675),
U Ngwe Sint (480-607-5052)