Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Burmese applicant #4

Questions from the government lawyer, to the pro-democracy activist from Burma:

Why did you protest in front of the Embassy? isn't it dangerous to protest?
you willingly put your family into danger?
Your government gave you a passport? they put stamps into it?
You flew from Rangoon to Bangkok? why not apply for asylum in Bangkok?
Then you flew to Narita airport, in Japan? why not apply for asylum in Japan?
What was your intent as you left your country? did you have a clear intent, or were you just confused and nervous?
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You went to the US Embassy and asked for a visa?
what questions did they ask, and how did you answer? did you lie?
You told lies to the US official? why?
Why didn't your wife ask for a visa at the same time?
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your father came to the USA, and then he returned home? he voluntarily returned to the country that you say is so dangerous? and, after his return, did he have any problems? so the country is not dangerous? if your father had no problems, why would you?
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You say your government took your photograph while you were standing on the sidewalk in front of the Embassy. How would government know the guy in the baseball hat is you?
Does your government have spies and informants in the crowd?
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what did you tell your wife about your plans? what was her response?
what did you tell your brother? what was his response?
your brother lives here in the USA and he refuses to help you? it is OK with him if you get sent back to the "dangerous" country? so, according to your brother, it is not really a dangerous country?
You had problems in the city of Monywa? OK, so, why not go live in the city of Rangoon? would you be safe in some other city?

Burmese Applicant #3

You say you were in prison until January 2009? but you only left your country in December? why the big delay? why not flee immediately?
What was your intent as you left your country? did you plan to apply for asylum? did you have lots of information about the USA, and what the rules were? or, did you just have a small amount of info?
If you only had a small amount of info, were you confused, and you did not really have a plan?
Tell my all about your passport: when was it issued? was it difficult to get? did you have to pay a bribe to get it?
Did you re-new your passport? The government was happy to help you out, and re-new it?
You showed your passport to the officials at the airport, as you left your country? No one arrested you at the airport? why not?
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What would happen to you if you return to your country? why would you be arrested?
If you were not arrested at the airport, would you continue your oppostional political activies? would you join anti-government groups? would you protest in your country?
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Were you a member of any organization in Burma? did you hold an office? were you a prominent member, or just an ordinary person who sat on a chair, in silence, during meetings?
What did you do as a member of that organization? did you sit at a desk and make phone calls? stand on the street and pass out literature? ask people to donate money? march and chant slogans on the street? write letters and essays?
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Inside the prison, what did the guard ask you? how did he know you were a member of that organziation?
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What were your political activities in the USA? did you stand on sidewalk with a large poster, in front of your embassy? did you join any groups? did you hold a leadership position?
Does your government know what you did in USA? how do you know if they know that?
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You say you protested in front of the Embassy? and that Embassy workers took your photograph?
Why did they take your photo?
You think they send the photo back to your country, and match it with a passport photo, and find out who you are?
Why do you think that? did someone tell you that?
How do you know what they do, or do not do?
do you know the name of one person, who protested in USA, who then returned home, and was arrested?

Burmese applicant #2

More questions asked of a pro-democracy activist from Burma:
When was the first time you were arrested? tell me the month/year/city?
Where were you, at the moment of your arrest?
How long were you detained?
Were you questioned? how many times? 3 x?
during the first questioning period, did you suffer any physical abuse?
what did they hit you with? what weapons did they use?
where did they hit you? on your left leg?
Did you see any blood? where? on your shirt, and on your hands?
Did you suffer any long-lasting injuries?
did you see a doctor for your injuries?
Where is the medical record from the doctor, confirming that you saw the doctor?
How did you get released? what was the conversation at the time of your release?
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you were released from prison in 2006? did you have any problems with your government in 2007? in 2008?
Did you ever travel outside of your country? when?
Why didn't you apply for asylum in France? why not in Japan?
After living in Japan, you voluntarily returned to Burma?
You say your government hates you, but you voluntarily returned to your country?
Isn't the fact of your return some evidence that your country is not dangerous?

questions asked of a Burmese applicant

How old are you?
are you married? where is your wife?
children? where are they?
mother and father: where are they?
brothers? where are they? One is in the USA? his status?
sisters: one is in France? her status there?
Has any member of your family had problems with the government? YES?
1. your wife: she had problems? her three biggest problems: tell me the month/year/city for each problem.
2. your youngest daughter: her biggest problems? tell me the month/year/city where she had problems!
3. did anyone else in your family have problems? Cousin Tial? he was in prison for six months in 1998? why was he in prison?
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Now, tell me more about your self:
your education? did you finish high school? did you go to university?
-what work did you do? did you have a good job, earning lots of money? You did not want to leave your high-paying job, but you felt you had to leave?
Or, were you un-employed, living in poverty, and you just came to USA to earn money?
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Did you have any problems with your government? What were your three biggest problems?
You were imprisoned three times? tell me the month/year/city

YOUR FIRST ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT
when were you arrested? tell me month/year/city!
Where were you at the moment of your arrest? were you standing on the sidewalk? sitting on a chair inside your house?
Why were you arrested? what did the officer say to you?

Saturday, August 14, 2010

questions asked of a Christian from Burma

How did you get out of your country? did you leave thru the airport using your own passport, with your photo in it?
Did you pay a bribe to the official at the airport? how much? how did you pay him? put cash in an envelope?
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At the US Embassy, did you tell them your problems? why not/
Did you tell lies to get your visa? what questions did they ask you, and how did you answer?
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You say you were arrested in 2009? did you have any problems before that? everything was happy and great? did you suffer any employment discrimination? did anyone threaten you?
Why did you teach in the church?
Where were you, at the moment of your arrest? standing inside the church? sitting at a cafe drinking coffee? who else was there?
How long had you been teaching that day, before your arrest?
What was your father doing at that time? your mother?
When you later saw your sister, what thoughts went through your mind?
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You say that when you protested in front of the Embassy in Washington DC, a man inside the Embassy took your photograph? how do you know? why did he do that?
You think he sends the photo back to Burma, to compare it to your passport photo, and that way they can identify you?
Why do you think that?
did an official at the Embassy tell you that/
Who is Mr. Htut? did you work at the Burmese Embassy until the year 2005? was his story in the Washington Post? did he tell the newspaper that while he was in WAshington, he spent most of his time doing surveillance of Burmese exiles?
-Did Mr. Nyi Nyi Aung protest in USA, return to Burma, and then get arrested in 2009?
What is the VOA? what is the DVB? where do they broadcast their videos?