Burma march 'largest in 20 years' - Ajarn Forum

SimonD · 23rd September 2007, 23:39

At last the Burmese people are starting to rise up. I pray that the bloodshed, when it surely comes, is very short.

Burma march 'largest in 20 years'

Buddhist monks are now calling on civilians to join the protests

Burma's largest anti-government protest in nearly two decades has taken place in the former capital Rangoon, led by Buddhist monks and nuns.

Up to 20,000 people took to the streets on the seventh day of protests calling for an end to the "evil dictatorship".

Unlike a day earlier, police barred a group of monks from entering the road that leads to the home of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The rallies began last month when the government doubled fuel prices.

BBC South Asia correspondent Jonathan Head says every day the protests are growing in size - the campaign the monks began just six days ago is now openly challenging the military, urging all citizens to join in.

Barricades

A huge column of demonstrators made its way through the heart of the city, following an identical route to that used during the failed anti-military uprising in 1988.

Profile: Aung San Suu Kyi

There are no exact figures but the rally was estimated to be 20,000 strong.

Our correspondent says the mood was relaxed, even euphoric, with thousands of civilians joining Buddhist monks and nuns, and chanting the key demands of this campaign - reconciliation with the opposition, the release of political prisoners and lower prices.

Apparently unsure what to do, the security forces appear to be standing back for the moment and the next act in the drama is impossible to predict, says our correspondent.

Speaking on the sidelines of a UN meeting, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said America was "watching very carefully" the protests and denounced Burma's "brutal regime".

"The Burmese people deserve better. They deserve the right to be able to live in freedom, just as everyone does."

The head of regional grouping Asean, Ong Keng Yong said he hoped the Burmese authorities would not take any strong action "and turn the protests into a big confrontation".

Ms Suu Kyi emerged tearfully on Saturday from the home where she has been under house arrest since 2003 to pray with the monks, after they were allowed through a roadblock.

But on Sunday the barricades were firmly back in place and there was a heavy security presence near the democracy icon's home to prevent a repeat protest march past.

Prayer vigils

Witnesses said the crowds formed a protective human chain, as the monks and nuns set off from Burma's most famous landmark, the revered Shwedagon Pagoda.

In pictures: Burma rallies
Profile: Shwedagon Pagoda

Some demonstrators chanted "Release Suu Kyi" as they continued to the nearby Sule Pagoda, before passing the US embassy.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Ms Suu Kyi has spent 11 of the last 18 years in detention.

In 1990 her party won national elections, but these were annulled by the army and she was never allowed to take office.

On Friday, the Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks, which is leading the demonstrations, vowed to continue until they had "wiped the military dictatorship from the land". The monks have urged the Burmese people to hold prayer vigils in their doorways for 15 minutes at 2000 (1330 GMT) on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Scores of nuns joined more than 2,000 monks in prayer on Sunday at the Shwedagon Pagoda, before marching to the centre of Rangoon.

discus2000 · 24th September 2007, 17:59

reportedly, more than 100,000 are now (Monday) taking part in the protests...
let's see how far the junta will let them go...

SimonD · 24th September 2007, 18:06

^^ I just heard that on the 11am news on BBC Radio 4.

Remember Ceaucescu put up against the wall in Romania? Let's hope the military junta in Burma suffer a similar fate. The Burmese have had enough, I think.

Jasper · 24th September 2007, 18:13

Yep, let's hope it keeps building. What they need is for the soldiers to side with them. Fingers crossed.

russellsimpson · 24th September 2007, 18:59

I guess it would be a damn hard thing to move against the monks. Even the Chinese probably wouldn't suppor that kind of action.

re_fuse · 24th September 2007, 19:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by russellsimpson

I guess it would be a damn hard thing to move against the monks. Even the Chinese probably wouldn't suppor that kind of action.

What about BP and Shell ?

discus2000 · 24th September 2007, 19:25

^

it's Total...

Umbuku · 24th September 2007, 23:07

You know things are not going well when 10,000 monks are sitting outside your office and protesting.

Kind of a big clue don't you think.

Benja · 25th September 2007, 10:30

back 20 years ago, were the monks this heavily involved in the protest movement? because it does seem like the only hope is that the soldiers will rebel against these pigs running things over there and refuse to shoot at a bunch of monks. hoping someone remembers better than I...

OllySol · 25th September 2007, 11:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benja

back 20 years ago, were the monks this heavily involved in the protest movement? because it does seem like the only hope is that the soldiers will rebel against these pigs running things over there and refuse to shoot at a bunch of monks. hoping someone remembers better than I...

Fingers crossed.

aging one · 25th September 2007, 11:47

Its now or never, its not going to be peaceful for much longer the military junta has too much to lose. The thoughts of the military coming over to the monks and peoples side is the best bet. They dont get paid diddly so perhaps they will see the light of day.

phuketbound · 25th September 2007, 12:08

I hope it ends peacefully. The Burmese people/monks deserve freedom from the Junta.
Isn't this the first time civilians join the monks, in protest against the junta?

Magpie · 25th September 2007, 13:52

I've got nothing to say but my avatar does!

zehner · 25th September 2007, 13:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by aging one

The thoughts of the military coming over to the monks and peoples side is the best bet

definitely. the burmese soldiers aren't treated much better than the civilians...if they have any conscience left they should join their countrymen and revolt

natalie8 · 25th September 2007, 14:11

This morning on CNN, they sid that a number of military personnel had shaved their heads and dressed as monks, possibly with the intention of acting as military later on.