Vanhalen 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2007 Why no posts on Burma, surely this must be popping on your radars? From bbc.co.uk/news Thousands of monks detained in Burma's main city of Rangoon will be sent to prisons in the far north of the country, sources have told the BBC. About 4,000 monks have been rounded up in the past week as the military government has tried to stamp out pro-democracy protests. They are being held at a disused race course and a technical college. Sources from a government-sponsored militia said they would soon be moved away from Rangoon. The monks have been disrobed and shackled, the sources told BBC radio's Burmese service. There are reports that the monks are refusing to eat. The country has seen almost two weeks of sustained popular unrest, in the most serious challenge to the military leadership for more than two decades. Picture, taken by the Democratic Voice of Burma, apparently showing the body of a dead Burmese monk Reports have emerged of monks being attacked and killed The authorities said 10 people were killed as the protests were dispersed, though diplomats and activists say the number of dead was many times higher. The banned opposition broadcaster Democratic Voice of Burma has issued a picture which they say shows the body of a monk floating near the mouth of the Rangoon river. Last week several monasteries were raided, and there were reports of monks being beaten and killed. With many monks behind bars, the demonstrations have now died down. On Monday, the centre of Rangoon was almost back to normal, a reporter, who cannot be identified for security reasons, told the BBC. Most shops and temples have reopened and people appear to be getting on with their lives. But there seemed to be a group of soldiers around every corner, and very few monks about, the reporter said. Their eyes are on the international community, their only hope is that the world will see their plight and help them A Buddhist activist Buddhist monk's view Reporters' update Exiles in desperate conditions This is notable in a city where monks can usually be spotted going in and out of temples, shopping at street stalls and chatting in tea shops. The atmosphere in Rangoon is tense, the reporter said. Local people are well aware that the monks have been locked away and are afraid that they will be next. The crackdown, in which unarmed protesters were beaten, tear-gassed, and shot at, has attracted condemnation from abroad, and even from Burma's neighbours in the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean). Envoy still waiting As well as preventing the demonstrations, the military junta has tried to block news of the unrest filtering out. Troops are stopping young men on the streets and in cars, searching for cameras that may be used to smuggle out images. Most internet links are still down and mobile phone networks disrupted. A message to viewers of Burmese state TV Foreign news outlets are scorned by Burmese state TV Official media has been warning Burmese people against co-operating with or using foreign news outlets. A TV message on Monday referred to the BBC, Voice of America and Radio Free Asia as "assassins on air". UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari was set to meet Burma's military leader General Than Shwe on Tuesday, officials said. On Saturday, when Mr Gambari travelled to the new capital Naypidaw, he was allowed to meet only more junior members of the government. On Sunday, Mr Gambari held talks with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon - the first foreigner to be permitted to do so for 10 months. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vanhalen 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2007 Burma unrest: Account from a monastery A Buddhism student, who experienced first-hand the events of the last two weeks at a Buddhist monastery in Burma, describes the recent unrest. Monks watch armed police officer Rage, disappointment and hopelessness - this is what they feel In Burma, the topic of politics is always on people's minds. But only until recently it would have been impossible to predict the events that were about to unfold. It is commonly perceived in Buddhist monasteries that the government has spies there. There is always a feeling of suspicion and everyone's careful about what they say. Casual conversations have led to trouble in the past. Burmese people protested against fuel price increase in August. The monks' first reaction was a response to the economic situation. Monasteries depend on material support from the public. The price increases put a strain on ordinary people and in turn they couldn't spare much of their income to give to monasteries. Monks were worried that they can't survive like that and that they soon won't have anything to eat. For those who have spent all their lives in a monastery, to leave and do something else was not an option. A few monks expressed their dissatisfaction to members of the government. The incident in Pakokku, in which monks were beaten was like a kick to their faces. It activated their attention and that's when they realised that this involves them too. There was widespread outrage, but still no action. Impact of the news Then they heard on the radio that groups of monks were protesting on the streets of Rangoon. That's when they realised that something was happening. Everyone was glued to the radio waiting to hear the latest news from the BBC and Voice of America. The news had a bigger impact on decisions and events, than any leader could have had. Those who took part were from the younger generation of monks, who hadn't experienced the events of 1988 and thought that they couldn't be attacked. The older monks were too frightened and hesitant. Those who had responsible positions in the monastery were particularly against anybody taking part in protests. After they had fled the beatings, they would come back and cheer that they could go out and do what they have done They issued orders to other monks not to take part. They were saying 'don't do anything, if you leave, you will be disassociated'. The middle-level monks were sandwiched between the senior monks and the young ones. Many sneaked in and out. After they had fled the beatings, they would come back and cheer that they could go out and do what they have done. Some got injured, but nobody was killed. Then we heard on the news that monks were being killed. There was outrage, disappointment, hopelessness. They wanted to send a message to the international community. They heard about China, sanctions, the UN, negotiations, things they didn't understand. But it gave them hope that the international community is watching closely what's happening in Burma. Losing hope The whole thing started as a religious movement. It was not an organised democratic movement and there was no intention whatsoever for it to be turned into one. Monks were adamant about it. They knew that there is no point in asking the generals for freedom. They knew that they don't have guns and can't beat the army. All they wanted to do was show the world what their situation is and that they are prepared to die. They were very hopeful about the UN envoy coming to Burma. But they were quite surprised to hear that the UN envoy met Aung San Suu Kyi. They love and respect her, but they felt that this time it is about them and that the UN envoy should be speaking to them. They felt that it's a distraction from them while they are being shot at and need protection. This was an opportunity for them to express themselves after 20 years. Their eyes are on the international community, their only hope is that the world will see their plight and help them. But when they hear that support for the demonstrations is dwindling and time passes by without help from anyone, they lose hope. They are getting disillusioned and eventually they'll give up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
snuffbox 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2007 Try the 'GWB is completely right' thread. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vanhalen 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2007 Hey, I apologise to you guys then, I ddin't realise it was under there Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
