Projects

Burma
Free schools and librarys inside Burma >>

Thailand
Burmese refugees in Thailand >>

Africa
Children eductaion project in Mozambique >>

Videos

Food Donations to celebrate Aung San Suu Kyis Birthday in Maeksar Village /Mae Sot, Thailand

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Birthday Prayer in Rome/Italy

The Best Friend Depayin Memory on DVB Television

Hal interviews Ashin Sopaka

Nargis Memorial in Japan with Ashin Sopaka
(thanks to maungwto)

Interview with Kingzero I
(DVB TV 28 April 2009)

Interview with Kingzero II
(DVB TV 28 April 2009)

Interview with Ashin Sopaka about Burma by Raluca

Rice Donations for the Families on the rubbish dump of Mae Sot

Bake Sale in Berlin

On June 19th The Best Friend held a birthday celebration for Aung San Suu Kyi in Mae Sot/ Thailand. It was an all religion pray for Daw Suu and all political prisoners in Burma.
Video (in Burmese) >>

Mae Sot, Thailand: On May 30th The Best Friend held a ceremony in memory of the Depayin Massacre, one of the most notorious incidents in recent Burmese history where Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) convoy were viciously attacked, leaving scores dead and injured.
The ceremony was aligned with the official opening celebration of the new library. Democracy activists and many interested persons where present. Pictures here >>

Religious leaders from the Catholic Church in Cannes and Ashin Sopaka together recited Metta Sutta to pray for justice and freedom of Burma.
To highlight Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's trial ordeal he also attendet a candle vigil in Cannes for the Nobel Peace laureate. Pictures here >>
Video of the candle vigil >>

Ashin Sopaka stayed one week in Nagoya and one week in Tokyo. He met with political activists from Burma and Japan. At the end of his visit he attanded the Nargis memorial prayer in front of UN Headquaters in Tokio.
Pictures here >>

The newly rented house in Mae Sot has now a library. It is an addition to the school and was established by Kingzero (Thailand), Ashin Sopaka (Germany) and Ashin Kovida (Switzerland) with the help of H.R.D.P. (Human Resource Development Program).

Although there are still empty shelves, we hope they will be filled with books and learning materials in the near future.
Pictures here >>

Before you read the interview please kindly take note of this comment:

Please forgive me if I used very harsh words. I suffer a lot when I see how people are facing difficulties. (...) Please understand I love peace and freedom!
I will never kick someone but in dream I can not control!
All the best wishes for you.
Ashin Sopaka
Read the interview here >>

King Zero rented a house in Mae Sot and has now opened a new school for the refugee children there. In addition to the normal education the children do also learn the buddhist practice of meditation.
more >>

Thai soldiers attacked the 44KM school on march 28th at about 10 a.m. They banned the school, destroyed all equipment, tables, chairs and burned the roof. Due to the holidays no children and no teachers were there and nobody got hurt. Another attack happened at December 14th 2008.
more >>

In February 2009 Burmese activist and monk Ashin Pannasiri participates in an Open Dharma gathering in Sarnath/India and exchanges his experiences and views with members of an international Sangha more >>

Pictures of the event here >>

Ashin Sopaka recently visited Prague on the invitation of the One World film festival to introduce one of the strongest human rights documentaries to be shown there in recent years.

Read the interview here >>

Ashin Pannasiri, a member of The Best Friend and one of the Monks who was arrested in October 2007 during the time of the Saffron Revolution, explained about his experiences in forced labor camp and jail in Burma. He sat down with a group of foreigners in Varanasi/ India and brought tears to their eyes.
See more pictures here >>
Read his story here >>

On January 23, 2009 started a massive crack down in Mae Sot. Thai police arrested hundreds of burmese refugees and migrant workers, some where sent back to Burma. Children where put behind bars and separated from their parents. All their houses are destroid.

February 8th Update: Ashin Sopaka is currently in Mae Sot. He reports the refugees are now working on the rubbish dump in day time and are hiding in the night. They are very forlorn and scared off, without money they can not even go back to Burma. Picture gallery >>

More on Der Spiegel online: Thailand schickt Flüchtlinge in den sicheren Tod more >>

With donations collected in Germany King Zero was able to bring learning material, toys and food to the 44 KM school for Burmese refugees in Thailand. He also delivered money for maintenance. more >>

On January 5th King Zero together with other members of The Best Friend, delivered rice donations to the refugees on the rubbish dump of Mae Sot. Every family received one bag. more >>