Burmese monks are leading nationwide protests against the military junta that has run their country for decades after a surge of fuel prices in August. Nearly 100,000 people, monks and civilians alike, have joined the protest calling for better living conditions, national reconciliation, and the release of Nobel Peace laureate and Burma pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

At least 30,000 monks marched peacefully through the Burmese capital of Rangoon beginning September 17, 2007 calling for better living conditions and national reconciliation. Triggered by the military government’s decision to double fuel prices in mid-August, the monks have been calling on the entire country to join them in their campaign to overthrow the military junta. About 50,000 to 100,000 people, including civilians, students, and personalities from the film and entertainment industry, have already responded to their call and joined them in protest.

The Buddhist monks issued a Statement on September 18 that expressed their anger at the junta, who were responsible for attacking some 300 monks protesting against the oil price hike in the central town of Pakokku in early September. “The violent, mean, cruel, ruthless, pitiless kings—the great thieves who live by stealing from the national treasury—have killed a monk at Pakokku, and also arrested reverend clergymen by trussing them up with ropes. They beat and tortured, verbally abused, and threatened them. The clergy boycotts the violent, mean, cruel, ruthless, pitiless kings.” The Statements was circulated to the media by the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC).

During the eight-day demonstration, protesters stopped close to city hall for a round of critical public speeches directed at the junta. It was in that same spot where almost 300 university students were shot to death during a pro-democracy uprising in 1988.

On September 22, the monks also rallied outside the home of Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace laureate and Burma’s pro-democracy leader who has been under house arrest for over 11 years and not seen in public for over four years.

Some critics say these protests are a convergence of the monks and opposition political groups.

In Burma, over 85 percent of the 47.3 million people are Buddhists. Monks are highly revered and any move by the junta to stop their demonstrations would spark an outcry. “If the junta shoots the monks or attacks them with force, the entire country will rise up,” said Khin Ohmar, a Burmese political activist living in exile in northern Thailand.

The Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks, the organisation that has emerged to lead the protests, has vowed to continue its demonstrations until it has “wiped the military dictatorship from the land.”

“The monks have taken a stand in a very provocative way. They are asserting their role of having a moral obligation to help improve the people’s welfare,” said Debbie Stothard of the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma), adding that, if more monks protest, it will expose the ways in which “the military is gradually losing control of the situation.”

Active in disseminating information on the protests, ALTSEAN-Burma has released a briefer titled, “Face off in Burma: Monks vs SPDC,” which can be downloaded at <http://www.altsean.org/Reports/MonksvsSPDC.php>.  Visit ALTSEAN’s interactive map at <http://www.altsean.org/Photogalleries/ProtestsMap.php>, for updates, photos, and videos of the protests.

FYI: Stepping-up the protests against Burma junta

August 15: Junta doubles fuel prices, sparking protests
September 5: Troops injure several monks at a protest in Pakokku
September 17: The junta’s failure to apologise for the injuries draws new protests by monks
September 18-21: Daily marches by monks in Burmese cities gradually gather in size
September 22: 1,000 monks march to the home of Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon
September 23: Up to 20,000 march in Rangoon
September 24: New Rangoon march draws at least 50,000 and 24 other towns join in

Source: BBC News, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7009825.stm>

FYI: Military rule in Burma

Burma has been ruled by successive military regimes since a 1962 coup. The current regime, which came to power in 1988, has controlled the country by expanding its military strength to over 400,000 troops and has been aided by front organisations created to cause mayhem and mount attacks on opposition voices. 

The military regime has been accused of gross violation of human rights, particularly on women and children, including rape and forced labour. 

Source: Inter Press Service, <http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39400>.

Related article:
“Burma: Bloggers provide protest stories despite censorship” from we! September 2007, No. 2

Sources:
“Buddhist Clergy on Collision Course with Junta” from Inter Press Service, posted on September 21, 2007, <http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39354>.
“Buddhist Monks Take on Military Regime” from Inter Press Service, posted on September 7, 2007, <http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39173>.
“Monks lead largest Burma protest” from BBC News, posted on September 24, 2007, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7009825.stm>.
“Monks Lead Protests, Challenge Junta” from Inter Press Service, posted on September 25, 2007, <http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39400>.