Monks march Against Myanmar Junta

Just few days ago, we had conversation about the role of monks in a modern society. Prof.Wang, strongly pointed out Tibetan monks in Tibet, especially with a level of power or influence are not doing enough to contribute to the social changes. In deed, to some extent he is absolutely correct. However, Buddhist monks, in places like Tibet, Burma, and Thailand are not just simply staying in monastery learning, praying and chanting but also playing an important role in social movements.

In Tibetan History, monks are always played a significant role, in deed; it is one of most influential group in Tibetan society. And similar, in Burma, monks have been at the forefront of past protests of British colonialism and military dictatorship, but have been kept on a tight leash by the current junta, which took power after violently quashing mass pro-democracy demonstrations in 1988.

Again, recently monks in Burma held an anti-government protest march and seized government officials and burned their vehicles. "We can't sit back and watch the people who sponsor us sink into poverty. Their poverty is our poverty as well," the unidentified monk added.

The marches were the latest in a series of antigovernment protests, which began Aug. 19 after authorities raised fuel prices by as much as 500 percent. The protests have continued despite the detention of more than 100 demonstrators and the rough treatment of others. At least 400 saffron-robed monks, walking in rows of two and three and cheered on by thousands of onlookers offering water, were locked out of Yangon’s famous Shwedagon Pagoda and then both the Sule and Botataung pagodas. After plainclothes police intervened, the monks sat in the street and chanted before returning to their monasteries.

Meanwhile, in the city of Bago about 50 miles away, another 1,000 monks marched peacefully to the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, residents said.

I hope, again hope, the government and the international community could offer a better solution that satisfy Burmese (civilians and monks)'s demands. I strongly feel that Burmese deserve a peaceful, happy and a quality life.