Religion, Nationalism, and Terror

Source: openDemocracy.net, September 28, 2007

Myanmar - Monks - Buddhism - Protests and Demonstrations, New York Times, September 30, 2007

Burmese monks have taken part in protests in the past, against British colonial rule and against a half-century of rule by military dictatorship. The most notable recent occasion was in 1990.

Their militant resistance to the British produced the most prominent political martyr of Burmese Buddhism, U Wisara, who died in prison in 1929 after a 166-day hunger strike.

His statue stands near the tall, golden Shwedagon Pagoda, the country’s holiest shrine, which was a rallying point for the recent demonstrations and the scene of the first violence against the monks last week.

The Monks Are Cut Off, and Burmese Clashes Ebb - New York Times, September 29, 2007

BANGKOK, Sept. 28 — Myanmar’s armed forces appeared on Friday to have sealed tens of thousands of protesting monks inside their monasteries, but they continued to attack bands of demonstrators who challenged them in the main city, Yangon.

Protesters continued to challenge authorities in Yangon Friday, after thousands of monks were sealed off in monasteries.

Witnesses and diplomats reached by telephone inside the country said troops were confronting and attacking smaller groups of civilians around Yangon, chasing them through narrow streets and sometimes firing at protesters and arresting them.

Burma’s revolt | openDemocracy.net, September 27, 2007

Eyewitness reports from bloggers inside Burma - Times Online, September 26, 2007

With the Burmese government restricting visas to foreign journalists, and all internal media controlled by the state, the internet provides one of the few routes left for getting eyewitness reports from inside Burma to the outside world. Despite rumours that the junta intends to close down internet access, a few brave bloggers continue to report their experiences.

Monks’ protests put pressure on junta, Financial Times, September 25, 2007

…the dramatic display in recent days of the Burmese public’s long-pent up resentment is threatening the military’s plans, as they confront a mass protest movement led by Buddhist monks chanting prayers for peace.

In spite of warnings to monks to stop marching and keep out of “secular affairs”, the generals have shown an uncharacteristic tolerance for the protests, probably out of concern about the repercussions both at home and in relations with key allies, such as China, of any violent crackdown.