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I was asked to speak on a panel at the largest conference in the world on Myanmar issues, held every year in Chiang Mae Thailand. I spoke about the need to keep supporting those struggling for peace and democracy and how I’ve used film and music for social justice. The then asked me to sing my song Mandalay. Interesting to combine a speech and a song.
Mandalay music video: https://youtu.be/jL9BxwuQD68

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I spoke at the world’s biggest conference on Burma last week and at the end was asked to play my song “Mandalay.” This article tells the story… A major war on Australia’s doorstep, with the Burmese military taking over the country by force and the country’s people valiantly fighting back for their children’s future…. We need to do everything we can to become more aware and support their struggle.
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This is from the closing ceremony of the Burma Conference in Thailand. It is a photo of all the Burmese musicians who performed and myself..

Mandalay music video: https://youtu.be/jL9BxwuQD68

Listen to Mandalay on BANDCAMP

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This week I was proud to be invited to play after the closing ceremony of the largest conference on issues relating to Burma in the world, over 1000 participants, held every two years in Chiang Mai, on the Thai-Burma border. I played with some amazing Burmese musicians, proud to support the pro-democracy resistance to the brutal military takeover of the country

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Last month I was honored to be presented with Timor Leste (formerly East Timor’s) highest honor, The Medal of Timor for contribution to the country’s human rights and democracy. The Medal was presented at a ceremony by Nobel Peace Prize winner Jose Ramos Horta, followed by a celebration at our non-profit AJAR’s office. About 200 people, mostly human rights defenders and survivors of serious violations, joined hands to dance the amazing Timor “tebe tebe” solidarity dance that was so important to bring people together and maintain hope during the dark days of the 24 year-long Indonesian military occupation. Traditionally it is the women who hold the power to drum the powerful beats behind the dance, circling with drums under their arms.

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Oh Le Le Le (Music Video): https://youtu.be/bHRMwfG5fkM?si=l_PFbEjBht6voS1p

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I continue to be flooded with communications from people in Timor Leste, and also Burma, over the resurgence of my song Oh Le Le Le, written in the voice of the spirit of resistance to oppression. The caption they share is: “This is real music,” with the video of destruction and hope after conflict. The ‘real’ quality of the music is thanks to the amazing contributions of friends in the studio, including Rob Hirst and Martin Rotsey of Midnight Oil and DC from the Ghostwriters on bass. Listen for Martin Rotsey’s incredible lead solo in the middle.  I hope Rob is smiling from above and it just may be that the Timorese, deeply intuitive after all the suffering they’ve been through, can feel his input in the song…Rob Hirst was a master of ‘real music,’ amazing and inspirational, which we need all now more than ever. The whole world misses you, Rob but your legacy is so strong, even in remote villages of Timor Leste..

Oh Le Le Le (Music Video)

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I have just had an amazing and also very surprising visit to Timor Leste. In addition to the honour of receiving the Medal of Timor from the President out of the blue it seems my 2007 song Oh Le Le Le, has gone viral. Apparently more than 400,000 Youtube viewings in the past month or so in this little island nation alone. Everywhere I went, in restaurants, on the street, people came up and ask to take selfies with me. Who would have thought after all this time it would be a major hit? Thanks to the amazing video shot by film maker Ian White, whose documentary on Nick Cave’s Birthday Party won major international acclaim. His video of Oh Le Le Le was shot in the charred ruins of Timor when the smoke had cleared from the conflict, along with plenty of smiles of hope.

Oh Le Le Le (Music Video)

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Yesterday, in Dili I was very proud and humbled to be awarded the Medal of Timor Leste by the President, Nobel Peace Prize winner Jose Ramos Horta, alongside my wife Galuh Wandita, with whom I co-founded AJAR. In official letters from the President the award is described as one of the highest honours in Timor Leste, given in recognition of “remarkable contribution” to Timor Leste’s struggle through conflict to independence and democracy. In the press release I expressed my gratitude:

“It has been one of the great joys and inspiration of my life to be able to spend those years working beside the courageous Timorese people, who refused to accept domination by force and violence, standing firm in their belief that freedom and democracy is their right. Timor offers many lessons to other contexts, such as Myanmar, where people today also stand before those dragons of military might. Timor gives us hope, a clear example that entrenched conflict can be overcome and a democracy based on truth, justice and human rights is possible.


https://asia-ajar.org/press-release/on-receiving-the-medal-of-the-order-of-timor-leste-with-gratitude-to-survivors-friends-and-the-people-of-timor-leste
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Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR)

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Tune in to COUNTRY WARDROBE on the radio this Sunday 30th November where host Nardia Drayton will spin ‘Mandalay’ the new single from Patrick Burgess alongside… Chloe & James, Karin Page, Jason Resch, inkind, Nancy Bates, Josh Setterfield, Anna Weatherup, Patrick Burgess, Tim Clark, Ben Camden, Graeme Connors, Studio8, Rhys Thompson

COUNTRY WARDROBE episode 165! (Airing from Sunday, 30 November)

The program airs at various times on various stations around the country (community and commercial) and online. You can hear it live on…
Bucketts Radio 104.1FM, Flow FM Aust, 104.1 Territory FM, Capital Country Radio, Backwater Country, PopRock Country, 2oceansFM, OZ CMR (group link below – feel free to join), The Best Hits, Tyga-Fm

Check the Country Wardrobe web page for station details:
https://rockthiscountry.com.au/country-wardrobe
OZ CMR: https://www.facebook.com/groups/326901070685236

‘Mandalay’, the new single from Patrick Burgess is OUT NOW on Spotify, Apple Music,

Bandcamp and all major streaming platforms…

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/mandalayonspotify
YouTube: https://youtu.be/jL9BxwuQD68
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/patrick-burgess/1133081941
Bandcamp: https://patburgess.bandcamp.com/track/mandalay
Listen to other ‘story-songs’ from Patrick Burgess on
Spotify and Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/@ajarmusicchannel

Please support Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR) https://asia-ajar.org program of protecting and empowering Burmese human rights defenders so they can continue their fight for freedom
Donate here: https://support-human-rights-defender-myanmar.raiselysite.com

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“The revolutionary leader said, we’ll meet in secret
Our names will be code, so that no one will know
With a new ‘nom de guerre’ and the smell of your hair
Falling in love as the smoke filled the air
I said I will be George Orwell,
You said you can call me Mandalay”

‘Mandalay’, the new single from Patrick Burgess is OUT NOW on Spotify, Apple Music,
Bandcamp and all major streaming platforms…

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/mandalayonspotify
YouTube: https://youtu.be/jL9BxwuQD68
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/patrick-burgess/1133081941
Bandcamp: https://patburgess.bandcamp.com/track/mandalay
Listen to other ‘story-songs’ from Patrick Burgess on
Spotify and Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/@ajarmusicchannel

Please support Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR) https://asia-ajar.org program of protecting and empowering Burmese human rights defenders so they can continue their fight for freedom
Donate here: https://support-human-rights-defender-myanmar.raiselysite.com

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‘Mandalay’, the new single from Patrick Burgess is OUT NOW!

‘Mandalay’ tells the story of two student activists who fall in love in the intoxicating atmosphere of the ongoing fight for freedom in Burma (Myanmar.) They are arrested and imprisoned for their beliefs but hold on to the memories of their love and their promise to meet up again… in Mandalay.  Finally, the singer is released from prison. Will he be reunited with his beautiful lover in her white dress? You will have to listen to the song or watch the video, including footage shot inside Burma, to find out.

Mandalay on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/mandalayonspotify
Video on Youtube : https://youtu.be/jL9BxwuQD68
Also on: Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/patrick-burgess/1133081941
Bandcamp and other streaming sites.
Listen to other ‘story-songs’ of Patrick Burgess on Spotify and Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/@ajarmusicchannel

Background: In 2021 the Burmese military junta forcibly removed the democratically elected government in Myanmar, replacing it with a regime that imprisons anyone who advocates for freedom and democracy. The vast majority of Burmese people continue their resistance to the brutal regime, courageously standing up to reject their oppressors despite great risks.

Please support Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR) https://asia-ajar.org program of protecting and empowering Burmese human rights defenders so they can continue their fight for freedom. Donate here: https://support-human-rights-defender-myanmar.raiselysite.com