New Mandala readers who followed the old conversations about foreign fighters in Burma may remember Antonio Graceffo. Among other contributions, he once penned a profile of the much-discussed KNLA supporter Thomas Bleming. Graceffo has also made a large number of freely available videos based on time spent with the Shan State Army – South. They are very interesting viewing.
According to The Morung Express, Graceffo is now subject to some Burmese government attention, although the precise nature of their interest is unclear. The details cited in the Express article are available here (in Burmese).
Do any readers know more about this?
Regardless of whether there are, in fact, moves against him, Graceffo is, by the sound of it, unperturbed. And, as his website notes, for his next adventures he wants to “study wrestling and horsemanship in Inner Mongolia, go de-mining in Cambodia, and study in a Madrasa in Pakistan”. Some extra attention from the Burmese authorities looks like it won’t get in the way of this particularly adventurous external destructive element.
6 responses so far ↓
1 Charles F. // Nov 17, 2008 at 11:27 am
I discussed the “Wanted” poster with Antonio a day or so ago. He doesn’t appear to be very perturbed about it.
The site the poster appears on is in Burmese, but another site had an English translation of it. The web site is just one of many “false flag” operations that the SPDC and its supporters run. Some Burmese living in the U.S. run these sites. They basically use American freedoms to denounce democracy.
The crux of it is that the SPDC is irritated by the videos that Antonio produced, which are on Youtube.com.
Since 1962 the SPDC have forbidden foreigners to enter Shan state, and here’s a guy who not only went there and lived with the Shan, but made videos for all to see.
2 Nicholas Farrelly // Nov 17, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Thanks Charles,
Just to clarify – for the past decade or so, foreigners (i.e. Westerners) have been able to travel relatively freely in the Shan State. Places like Lashio, Keng Tung, Mong La, Taunggyi, etc, are all pretty easy to get to (and get around). A number of the country’s top tourist destinations are in the Shan State and foreigners enter everyday of the year.
Loi Taileng and other areas not under government control are obviously sensitive, but not because foreigners are fobidden. Foreigners also go to some of those areas all the time.
Best wishes to all,
Nich
3 jud // Nov 18, 2008 at 3:49 am
http://myanmarnargis.org/content/view/40/5/
wanted
this we are all worry about
A friendly Burmese soldier told the source that the trucks were carrying ammunition and shells for heavy weapons such as 120mm and 150mm howitzers.
http://www.shanland.org/war/2008/junta-military-builds-up-more-forces-and-weapons-on-the-thai-burma-border
4 jud // Nov 18, 2008 at 6:51 am
Wanted for Opposing the Junta
By Antonio Graceffo
Burma’s ruling junta, the SPDC, uses disinformation and modern technology to issues a wanted order against Antonio Graceffo.
http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/14248
5 Thomas Bleming // Nov 18, 2008 at 11:20 am
What the SPDC/DKBA is doing (disinformation) against Antonio Graceffo comes as no surprise to me, nor should it come as much of a “surprise”to anyone knowing the way the beast (SPDC), operates and how propaganda plays a big part in their overall plan. Just like
almost everyone thought that the Thai’s were quietly “looking the
other way”, when it came to the KNLA, then in early October
they allowed the Burmese to attack the KNLA from behind, using Thai territory to launch frontal attacks throughout the Republic of Kawthoolei and thus permitted the SPDC/DKBA to overrun the Karen army bases !
When I was coming and going out of Mae Sot (March and April of this year), I was informed that the SPDC/DKBA were doing their damnest to try to locate me for one of their hits and so I was always on the move when I was back in Mae Sot. This I discussed with Colonel Nerdah at his base camp (which later was overrun by the SPDC six weeks ago), who informed me that my hunches that their was a possible SPDC mole within the KNU leadership, were perhaps correct after all, as after I had the meeting at the KNU main headquarters just outside Mae Sot, I was notified by a good friend of mine in the Thai National Police/Intelligence that the SPDC were scouring all over Mae Sot to locate me for a hit.
Let me assure your readers that I have some surprises saved for the SPDC and their DKBA stooges. I have been in the ”business” for over 40 years and can assure the enemy that they are not too far removed from my thoughts, and so I shall leave that comment for all of you to ponder over.
Oh, by the way I have heard (thru the rumor mill in Mae Sot), that a fresh contingent of foreign fighters has arrived into the Republic of Kawthoolei to assist the KNLA.
Anyone out there know more on this?
6 Charles F. // Nov 18, 2008 at 3:01 pm
The laughs just keep coming.
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