Monks & Nuns Get Militant
Mark Barrett | 23.09.2007 13:42 | Social Struggles | World
Nuns join Myanmar protests for first time
By Aung Hla Tun 1 hour, 32 minutes ago
YANGON (Reuters) - Buddhist nuns joined the growing protests against Myanmar's ruling generals on Sunday, a day after a dramatic appearance by detained democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi to pray with monks now leading the marches.
[read more here]
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070923/wl_nm/myanmar_dc_5
Suu Kyi Meets 500 Buddhist Monks
Burma's opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has met anti-government protesters, outside the house she is detained in.
Burmese police allowed about 500 Buddhist monks through a roadblock to march past the house in the capital and she came to her gate to greet them, witnesses said.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been under house arrest since 2003, with the area around the house closed to traffic since September 17.
The monks stopped briefly in front of Ms Suu Kyi's house to say prayers before leaving, said a resident, who asked not to be named for fear of being harassed by the authorities. The road was closed again after the monks passed.
Article continues
Thousands have been protesting against the military junta across the capital, and in other cities in the tightly controlled, military-ruled country.
Up to 10,000 people, including at least 4,000 Buddhist monks, marched in the central city of Mandalay.
Today marked the sixth day of protests and the swelling numbers indicated that the anti-government protests were growing.
Emboldened by the monks, about 800 other people walked along with them in the drizzling rain through the heart of Yangon's commercial district.
The monks' activities have given new life to a protest movement that began a month ago after the government raised fuel prices, triggering demonstrations against policies that are causing economic hardship.
Meanwhile, a monks' organisation for the first time urged the public to join in protesting "evil military despotism" in Burma.
"In order to banish the common enemy evil regime from Burmese soil forever, united masses of people need to join hands with the united clergy forces," the All Burma Monks Alliance said in a statement.
"We pronounce the evil military despotism, which is impoverishing and pauperizing our people of all walks including the clergy, as the common enemy of all our citizens," it continued.
Little is known of the group or its membership, but its communiqués have spread widely by word of mouth and through opposition media in exile.
Some monks have started a religious boycott of the junta, symbolized by holding their black begging bowls upside down as they march.
"I feel so sorry to see the monks walking in heavy rain and taking such trouble on behalf of the people. I feel so grateful as well," said a 50-year-old woman with tears rolling down her face. Like most onlookers, she asked not to be named for fear of drawing unwelcome attention from authorities.
Protest movement
This wave of protests began last month after the government raised fuel prices, but has its basis in long pent-up dissatisfaction with the repressive military regime.
Using arrests and intimidation, the government had managed to keep demonstrations limited in size and impact - but they gained new life when the monks joined.
The government has been handling the situation gingerly; aware that forcibly breaking up the monks' protest in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar would likely cause public outrage.
The monks gathered at Shwedagon, the site of the rally in 1988 where Ms Suu Kyi, took up leadership of a pro-democracy movement.
The military crushed the 1988 pro-democracy demonstrations, and Ms Suu Kyi has spent nearly 12 of the past 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.
2.30pm
Burmese protesters meet Suu Kyi
Staff and agencies
Saturday September 22, 2007
Guardian Unlimited
Burma's opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has met anti-government protesters, outside the house she is detained in.
Burmese police allowed about 500 Buddhist monks through a roadblock to march past the house in the capital and she came to her gate to greet them, witnesses said.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been under house arrest since 2003, with the area around the house closed to traffic since September 17.
The monks stopped briefly in front of Ms Suu Kyi's house to say prayers before leaving, said a resident, who asked not to be named for fear of being harassed by the authorities. The road was closed again after the monks passed.
Article continues
Thousands have been protesting against the military junta across the capital, and in other cities in the tightly controlled, military-ruled country.
Up to 10,000 people, including at least 4,000 Buddhist monks, marched in the central city of Mandalay.
Today marked the sixth day of protests and the swelling numbers indicated that the anti-government protests were growing.
Emboldened by the monks, about 800 other people walked along with them in the drizzling rain through the heart of Yangon's commercial district.
The monks' activities have given new life to a protest movement that began a month ago after the government raised fuel prices, triggering demonstrations against policies that are causing economic hardship.
Meanwhile, a monks' organisation for the first time urged the public to join in protesting "evil military despotism" in Burma.
"In order to banish the common enemy evil regime from Burmese soil forever, united masses of people need to join hands with the united clergy forces," the All Burma Monks Alliance said in a statement.
"We pronounce the evil military despotism, which is impoverishing and pauperizing our people of all walks including the clergy, as the common enemy of all our citizens," it continued.
Little is known of the group or its membership, but its communiqués have spread widely by word of mouth and through opposition media in exile.
Some monks have started a religious boycott of the junta, symbolized by holding their black begging bowls upside down as they march.
"I feel so sorry to see the monks walking in heavy rain and taking such trouble on behalf of the people. I feel so grateful as well," said a 50-year-old woman with tears rolling down her face. Like most onlookers, she asked not to be named for fear of drawing unwelcome attention from authorities.
Protest movement
This wave of protests began last month after the government raised fuel prices, but has its basis in long pent-up dissatisfaction with the repressive military regime.
Using arrests and intimidation, the government had managed to keep demonstrations limited in size and impact - but they gained new life when the monks joined.
The government has been handling the situation gingerly; aware that forcibly breaking up the monks' protest in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar would likely cause public outrage.
The monks gathered at Shwedagon, the site of the rally in 1988 where Ms Suu Kyi, took up leadership of a pro-democracy movement.
The military crushed the 1988 pro-democracy demonstrations, and Ms Suu Kyi has spent nearly 12 of the past 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 21/09/2007, Mark Barrett wrote:
Burmese monks' protests escalate
Thousands of monks are protesting against the Burmese junta
Thousands of Buddhist monks have protested in several Burmese cities in
escalating protests against the military government.
In the western port city of Sittwe, nearly 2,000 monks demanded the
release of four monks arrested on Tuesday.
About 1,000 monks marched through Mandalay, and several hundred more in
Rangoon, the former capital.
They want a government apology for the violent break-up of a recent
rally, triggered by protests over price rises.
Correspondents say the monks' protests will be worrying for the
government since monks were key players in mass protests staged in 1988.
These were violently put down by the junta and remain the last time the
country's rulers were seriously challenged.
The protest in Sittwe was one of the largest since monks first joined
the inflation-related protests at the end of last month.
The protesting monks have urged thousands of bystanders not to join in,
but authorities must be fearful that escalating protests may become
difficult to contain, correspondents say.
The monks are calling for the release of four of their fellow monks
arrested during Tuesday's protests.
These were violently dispersed by the security forces, who fired warning
shots and tear gas.
Some of the monks were beaten and several arrested, eyewitnesses say.
Tricky tactics
A new group that draws on militant youth elements among the monks - the
Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks - appears to be co-ordinating the
monks' protests.
It has asked its followers across the country to refuse alms and
offerings from anyone connected to the military.
The monks' actions are deeply embarrassing to Burma's military rulers,
but present them with a difficult dilemma, according to the BBC's South
East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head.
Monks are highly respected figures in Burmese society, and treating
protesting monks in the same way they might treat dissidents and
ordinary citizens risks provoking huge public anger, he adds.
The monks had given the government a deadline of Monday night to
apologise for its actions during an earlier rally in the city of
Pakokku, when soldiers and state-backed militia reportedly beat up
several monks.
But the deadline passed with no apology, and so a series of protests
went ahead on Tuesday in Rangoon and other locations.
Fuel price hike
The monks' demonstrations are the latest in a series of recent protests
in Burma, originally sparked by the military junta's decision to double
the price of petrol and diesel on 15 August.
The move was not announced ahead of time and the reasons behind it
remain unclear, but it has hit people hard.
Demonstrations have continued despite the arrest of many of Burma's most
prominent activists.
The protests are likely to put added heat on the government, which is
already under intense international pressure to implement democratic
change.
A spokesman for the Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks told the BBC
that the monks had learnt from their experiences in 1988 and 1990 when
their protests were easily put down by the military.
This time, he said, their leaders would remain underground.
By Aung Hla Tun 1 hour, 32 minutes ago
YANGON (Reuters) - Buddhist nuns joined the growing protests against Myanmar's ruling generals on Sunday, a day after a dramatic appearance by detained democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi to pray with monks now leading the marches.
[read more here]
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070923/wl_nm/myanmar_dc_5 Suu Kyi Meets 500 Buddhist Monks
Burma's opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has met anti-government protesters, outside the house she is detained in.
Burmese police allowed about 500 Buddhist monks through a roadblock to march past the house in the capital and she came to her gate to greet them, witnesses said.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been under house arrest since 2003, with the area around the house closed to traffic since September 17.
The monks stopped briefly in front of Ms Suu Kyi's house to say prayers before leaving, said a resident, who asked not to be named for fear of being harassed by the authorities. The road was closed again after the monks passed.
Article continues
Thousands have been protesting against the military junta across the capital, and in other cities in the tightly controlled, military-ruled country.
Up to 10,000 people, including at least 4,000 Buddhist monks, marched in the central city of Mandalay.
Today marked the sixth day of protests and the swelling numbers indicated that the anti-government protests were growing.
Emboldened by the monks, about 800 other people walked along with them in the drizzling rain through the heart of Yangon's commercial district.
The monks' activities have given new life to a protest movement that began a month ago after the government raised fuel prices, triggering demonstrations against policies that are causing economic hardship.
Meanwhile, a monks' organisation for the first time urged the public to join in protesting "evil military despotism" in Burma.
"In order to banish the common enemy evil regime from Burmese soil forever, united masses of people need to join hands with the united clergy forces," the All Burma Monks Alliance said in a statement.
"We pronounce the evil military despotism, which is impoverishing and pauperizing our people of all walks including the clergy, as the common enemy of all our citizens," it continued.
Little is known of the group or its membership, but its communiqués have spread widely by word of mouth and through opposition media in exile.
Some monks have started a religious boycott of the junta, symbolized by holding their black begging bowls upside down as they march.
"I feel so sorry to see the monks walking in heavy rain and taking such trouble on behalf of the people. I feel so grateful as well," said a 50-year-old woman with tears rolling down her face. Like most onlookers, she asked not to be named for fear of drawing unwelcome attention from authorities.
Protest movement
This wave of protests began last month after the government raised fuel prices, but has its basis in long pent-up dissatisfaction with the repressive military regime.
Using arrests and intimidation, the government had managed to keep demonstrations limited in size and impact - but they gained new life when the monks joined.
The government has been handling the situation gingerly; aware that forcibly breaking up the monks' protest in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar would likely cause public outrage.
The monks gathered at Shwedagon, the site of the rally in 1988 where Ms Suu Kyi, took up leadership of a pro-democracy movement.
The military crushed the 1988 pro-democracy demonstrations, and Ms Suu Kyi has spent nearly 12 of the past 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.
2.30pm
Burmese protesters meet Suu Kyi
Staff and agencies
Saturday September 22, 2007
Guardian Unlimited
Burma's opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has met anti-government protesters, outside the house she is detained in.
Burmese police allowed about 500 Buddhist monks through a roadblock to march past the house in the capital and she came to her gate to greet them, witnesses said.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been under house arrest since 2003, with the area around the house closed to traffic since September 17.
The monks stopped briefly in front of Ms Suu Kyi's house to say prayers before leaving, said a resident, who asked not to be named for fear of being harassed by the authorities. The road was closed again after the monks passed.
Article continues
Thousands have been protesting against the military junta across the capital, and in other cities in the tightly controlled, military-ruled country.
Up to 10,000 people, including at least 4,000 Buddhist monks, marched in the central city of Mandalay.
Today marked the sixth day of protests and the swelling numbers indicated that the anti-government protests were growing.
Emboldened by the monks, about 800 other people walked along with them in the drizzling rain through the heart of Yangon's commercial district.
The monks' activities have given new life to a protest movement that began a month ago after the government raised fuel prices, triggering demonstrations against policies that are causing economic hardship.
Meanwhile, a monks' organisation for the first time urged the public to join in protesting "evil military despotism" in Burma.
"In order to banish the common enemy evil regime from Burmese soil forever, united masses of people need to join hands with the united clergy forces," the All Burma Monks Alliance said in a statement.
"We pronounce the evil military despotism, which is impoverishing and pauperizing our people of all walks including the clergy, as the common enemy of all our citizens," it continued.
Little is known of the group or its membership, but its communiqués have spread widely by word of mouth and through opposition media in exile.
Some monks have started a religious boycott of the junta, symbolized by holding their black begging bowls upside down as they march.
"I feel so sorry to see the monks walking in heavy rain and taking such trouble on behalf of the people. I feel so grateful as well," said a 50-year-old woman with tears rolling down her face. Like most onlookers, she asked not to be named for fear of drawing unwelcome attention from authorities.
Protest movement
This wave of protests began last month after the government raised fuel prices, but has its basis in long pent-up dissatisfaction with the repressive military regime.
Using arrests and intimidation, the government had managed to keep demonstrations limited in size and impact - but they gained new life when the monks joined.
The government has been handling the situation gingerly; aware that forcibly breaking up the monks' protest in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar would likely cause public outrage.
The monks gathered at Shwedagon, the site of the rally in 1988 where Ms Suu Kyi, took up leadership of a pro-democracy movement.
The military crushed the 1988 pro-democracy demonstrations, and Ms Suu Kyi has spent nearly 12 of the past 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 21/09/2007, Mark Barrett wrote:
Burmese monks' protests escalate
Thousands of monks are protesting against the Burmese junta
Thousands of Buddhist monks have protested in several Burmese cities in
escalating protests against the military government.
In the western port city of Sittwe, nearly 2,000 monks demanded the
release of four monks arrested on Tuesday.
About 1,000 monks marched through Mandalay, and several hundred more in
Rangoon, the former capital.
They want a government apology for the violent break-up of a recent
rally, triggered by protests over price rises.
Correspondents say the monks' protests will be worrying for the
government since monks were key players in mass protests staged in 1988.
These were violently put down by the junta and remain the last time the
country's rulers were seriously challenged.
The protest in Sittwe was one of the largest since monks first joined
the inflation-related protests at the end of last month.
The protesting monks have urged thousands of bystanders not to join in,
but authorities must be fearful that escalating protests may become
difficult to contain, correspondents say.
The monks are calling for the release of four of their fellow monks
arrested during Tuesday's protests.
These were violently dispersed by the security forces, who fired warning
shots and tear gas.
Some of the monks were beaten and several arrested, eyewitnesses say.
Tricky tactics
A new group that draws on militant youth elements among the monks - the
Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks - appears to be co-ordinating the
monks' protests.
It has asked its followers across the country to refuse alms and
offerings from anyone connected to the military.
The monks' actions are deeply embarrassing to Burma's military rulers,
but present them with a difficult dilemma, according to the BBC's South
East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head.
Monks are highly respected figures in Burmese society, and treating
protesting monks in the same way they might treat dissidents and
ordinary citizens risks provoking huge public anger, he adds.
The monks had given the government a deadline of Monday night to
apologise for its actions during an earlier rally in the city of
Pakokku, when soldiers and state-backed militia reportedly beat up
several monks.
But the deadline passed with no apology, and so a series of protests
went ahead on Tuesday in Rangoon and other locations.
Fuel price hike
The monks' demonstrations are the latest in a series of recent protests
in Burma, originally sparked by the military junta's decision to double
the price of petrol and diesel on 15 August.
The move was not announced ahead of time and the reasons behind it
remain unclear, but it has hit people hard.
Demonstrations have continued despite the arrest of many of Burma's most
prominent activists.
The protests are likely to put added heat on the government, which is
already under intense international pressure to implement democratic
change.
A spokesman for the Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks told the BBC
that the monks had learnt from their experiences in 1988 and 1990 when
their protests were easily put down by the military.
This time, he said, their leaders would remain underground.
Mark Barrett