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.

People’s Desire

Last winter, traveling in Myanmar, I was astonish by the amount of slogans and propagandas on streets and local papers though myself also living in a pretty similar social environment. People’s desire is one of most famous slogan that catchs my eyes. Oppose those relying on external elements, acting as stooges, holding negative views.
Oppose those trying to jeopardize stability of the state and Progress of the nation.
Oppose foreign nations interfering in internal affairs of the state.
Crush all internal and external elements as the common enemy.

But, really nothing can justify people’s desire but the recent protests by civilian and monks in Burman.

Justice is a dream. But it is a dream we are determined to realize. And a dream of all Burmeses. Activists hold portraits of Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and shout slogans outside the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok September 16, 2007. About 30 activists from Myanmar held a protest calling for a stop to violence against peaceful demonstrators in Myanmar.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, right, shakes hands with his Myanmar counterpart U Nyan Win who is also special envoy of Myanmar's head of state Than Shwe, during their meeting in Beijing Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007. China is most important ally of Myanmar which is facing worldwide condemnation for its hardline handling of demonstrations that began Aug. 19 to protest fuel price hikes and a rise in the cost of consumer goods. But, in Australia, people protests with banner of Hu Jintao Leave Burma.