Saffron Revolution

Economic desperation was the trigger for the peaceful uprising that would come to be known as, “the Saffron Revolution,” named after the color of monks’ robes. In a setting where market prices had already tripled or quadrupled within the past year, in August 2007, the Burmese junta suddenly decided to lift fuel subsidies. As a result, fuel prices skyrocketed as much as 500% overnight, with food and other commodities’ prices following suit.  What did not happen was the same rise in income levels, leaving millions of people across the country unable to perform even the most basic functions such as buying food, traveling, and paying for children education. Tensions began to rise and eventually people took to the streets to protest.

Led by monks, the demonstrations multiplied and swelled in size over a matter of a few days. Crowds filled the streets of more than 25 cities across Burma, with 100,000 peaceful marchers in Rangoon alone. At the same time, machine-gun toting soldiers gathered ominously at intersections. Despite the backdrop of 8888 uprising when soldiers beat and gunned down student protesters with no reservations, many local and international onlookers were convinced that the Saffron Revolution would generate a positive outcome because of the concentration and leadership of Buddhist monks in the movement. Buddhism is the predominant religion in Burma, and the role of monks is held in high reverence. Monks are considered sons of Buddha, and to touch or assault a monk, let alone kill, is considered one of the gravest sins any man can commit.

Unfazed by the night raids and the rumors of mass arrest, on the morning of September 27^th, 50,000 courageous citizens gathered on the streets of Rangoon to demand freedom from fear. Soldiers opened fire on the crowds, killing at least nine unarmed protesters. One of them was Kenji Nagai, a Japanese journalist, whose murder was caught on video that went viral.

With each passing hour, more monks, nuns, and activists were detained as more soldiers filled the streets. The Burmese junta shut down the internet and cell phone service to stifle the flow of information to the outside world. Even so, accounts emerged of a crematorium burning day and night to destroy evidence of regime’s brutality. A Burmese colonel defected after refusing an order to slaughter hundreds of monks.

Soldiers were deployed heavily on the streets of every city and on the premises of emptied monasteries. With the leaders of the movement, including hundreds of monks, civic activists and local residents detained, large-scale demonstrations ceased. Reports suggested that low-level resistance continued, including small demonstrations by civilians and imprisoned monks refusing to receive alms from the generals. The streets of Burma may have quiet down and the day-to-day hustle and bustle resumed, but the sense of dissatisfaction, alienation, and anger against the ruling junta remain palpable.

The Saffron Revolution inspired a new wave of generation of activists, both inside Burma and around the world, who find ways to show their defiance and address their grievances, either in the form of art, literature, or public campaigns as risky as they may be.

UN Envoy Meets Suu Kyi, Junta Leaders as Troops Lock Down Rangoon

Please  HERE for detailed Story:

A UN special envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, held back-to-back meetings Sunday with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma’s military rulers, trying to find a peaceful solution to the crisis that has engulfed the impoverished country.

Gambari failed to see the top leaders, Snr-Gen Than Shwe and Deputy Snr-Gen Maung Aye. The UN envoy met with the acting Prime Minister Lt-Gen Thein Sein as well as the ministers of information and culture.

The separate talks occurred as thousands of troops locked down the largest cities on Sunday. Scores of people were arrested overnight, further weakening a flagging uprising to end 45 years of military dictatorship.

Gambari went to the remote bunker-like capital Naypyidaw on Saturday to meet with the junta and stayed overnight, diplomats said.

On Sunday, he returned to Rangoon and was whisked to the State Guest House to meet Suu Kyi, who was brought out of house arrest to see the UN envoy in what appeared to be an unexpected concession by the junta. He was likely to stay in Rangoon overnight, said the diplomats.

The meeting with Suu Kyi lasted about 90 minutes, the diplomats said on condition of anonymity, citing protocol. Details of the meeting were not immediately known.

“We want Gambari to stay here long enough to get underway a genuine process of national reconciliation,” Britain's ambassador Mark Canning said. “He should be given as much time as that takes. That will require access to senior levels of government as well as a range of political actors.”
The flurry of diplomatic efforts came after the military government launched a bloody crackdown last week on demonstrations that began August 19 to protest a sharp increase in fuel prices.

The protests drew international attention after thousands of Buddhist monks joined the people in venting anger at decades of brutal military rule. At the height of the protests, some 70,000 people turned out.

The junta, which has a long history of snuffing out dissent, cracked down Wednesday and Thursday, opening fire into a crowd of peaceful protesters and arresting scores. Though the official death toll is 10, foreign diplomats and dissident groups say the number is likely much higher.
Despite Gambari's meetings, it was not clear how much influence the junta will allow him to exert on the current crisis.

The UN has repeatedly failed to bring about a reconciliation between the military government and the pro-democracy opposition. Gambari and his predecessor, Razali Ismail of Malaysia, have also failed to secure freedom for Aung San Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace prize winner who has come to symbolize the struggle for democracy in Burma.

Her National League for Democracy (NLD) party won the 1990 general elections, which the junta called after crushing a much larger pro-democracy movement in 1988. But the party was never allowed to take power, and many of its top members were jailed.

Suu Kyi has spent 12 of the last 18 years under house arrest and has rarely been seen by the outside world. Gambari was the last foreign official to have met her on Nov. 11, 2006.
On Sunday, the number of troops in Rangoon, the largest city, swelled to about 20,000 after reinforcements arrived overnight, ensuring that almost all demonstrators would remain off the streets, another Asian diplomat said on condition of anonymity.

“The security forces are demonstrating their strength,” he said. “I think the chance of protesters coming to the road and mobilizing enough people to topple the junta is zero.”
A few monks were seen in a neighborhood on their customary morning round for alms.
“We are not going to protest any more. Rather we will conduct peaceful protests. We Buddhists believe that dhamma (Buddha's teachings) will finally win over evil,” said one monk.
People suspected of leading or organizing this week's rallies continue to be arrested, the Asian diplomat said, estimating the total number could be as high as 1,000, including several prominent members of the NLD. They joined an estimated 1,100 other political detainees who have languished in jails since before the current turmoil began.

“We apologize to foreigners for feeling unsafe ... People in this country are very nice and gentle, but the soldiers are very rough,” said one resident. Monks and residents spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing reprisals.

With the main prison overcrowded, people are now being detained in university buildings and educational institutes, he said.

A resident who identified himself as Ko Hla wrote on his Internet blog that troops in downtown Rangoon were searching every bag.
“If someone got caught with a camera in it, they would arrest him.

Japan's Deputy FM Leaves for Burma Following Journalist Killing

A Japanese official left for Burma on Sunday to press the military government to take steps toward democracy and to protest the killing of a Japanese journalist during a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

Deputy Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka was expected to arrive in Rangoon by Sunday evening, according to a Foreign Ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing policy.

Officials were arranging meetings with Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win and Home Affairs Minister Maj-Gen Maung Oo, Kyodo News agency reported. The ministry official could not confirm the report.

Yabunaka's visit comes after Kenji Nagai, 50, was killed Thursday when soldiers fired automatic weapons into a crowd of demonstrators.

A video broadcast by Japan's Fuji Television Network appeared to show a soldier shooting him directly from the front.

Doctors at a Rangoon hospital briefed Toru Yamaji—head of APF News, which Nagai worked for—after an autopsy. They said a bullet pierced his body from the left side of his back and several ribs were broken, said the APF's Sayaka Kobayashi.

During his visit, Yabunaka will press the junta to respond to concerns raised by the international community over its crackdown and urge the government make progress toward democratization, officials have said.

The generals have a long history of snuffing out dissent. The army and police started cracking down Wednesday when the first of at least 10 deaths was reported. They let loose again Thursday, shooting into a crowd and clubbing demonstrators with batons.

Japan lodged a protest over the killing of the journalist with Burma on Friday when Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura met with his counterpart Nyan Win at UN headquarters in New York.
Nyan Win said he was "extremely sorry" for Nagai's death, Komura told reporters after the meeting.

Junta Detain Reporter for Japanese Newspaper

Authorities in Burma were detaining a journalist reporting for a Japanese newspaper for the third day Sunday, his family members said.

Min Zaw, a Burmese national working for The Tokyo Shimbun, was taken from his home early Friday by plainclothes security personnel who said he would be held temporarily for questioning.

Family members said his mobile telephone was taken away but he was allowed to bring a change of clothing with him as well as medicine. Min Zaw, 56, suffers from diabetes and hypertension.
The Foreign Correspondents Club of Myanmar [Burma], which includes two dozen Burmese journalists officially accredited to foreign media organizations, Saturday sent a letter to the government asking for Min Zaw's early release, citing his medical problems.

Family members said Min Zaw was reporting on the ongoing pro-democracy demonstrations against the military regime in Burma, and was not involved in any political activity.

Min Zaw is the son-in-law of Sein Win, one of Burma's most respected journalists. The former publisher and editor of The Guardian newspaper, Sein Win later worked for The Associated Press and now reports for Japan's Kyodo News Agency.

Several Burmese journalists working for publications in Rangoon have been beaten up by police and soldiers while attempting to cover the demonstrations, but there have been no reports of other reporters being detailed.

The month-long protests climaxed last week with as many as 100,000 calling for an end to 45 years of military rule. The government says 10 people have been killed in the demonstrations but some activist groups place the death toll at 200 or more.

Monks Sentenced to Six Years Imprisonment; Rangoon, Mandalay Locked Down by Troops

Streets in Rangoon and Mandalay were relatively quiet on Saturday, following three bloody days in which at least 10 protesters were gunned down, according to state-run media, and scores of monks and civilians were beaten and arrested by security forces.

However, members of Burma's opposition groups say as many as 200 people may have been killed in the standoff between monks, pro-democracy demonstrators and security forces. Many hundreds of people were seriously injured.

Many corpses were taken to secret locations, according to opposition sources.

In Rangoon, as many as 1,000 monks have been imprisoned since a boycott on alms from the military government and its supporters was declared on September 17, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners based on the Thai-Burmese border.

The monks are being held in the notorious Insein Prison and the Government Technology Institute compound, located near the prison in north Rangoon, according to sources in Rangoon.

A senior monk who was taken to Insein Prison by authorities to talk to the monks said they were stripped of their robes and are now wearing prison clothing. Some monks have already been sentenced to six years imprisonment by a specially convened court, he said.

Throughout the day scattered protesters numbering in the dozens to several hundred, mostly young and bold, played hit-and-run games with security forces in Rangoon.

"Some young people appeared on the streets, holding fighting peacock flags and wearing arm bands. When the army trucks come, they run away," said one resident.

The authorities, who clearly have control of Rangoon, fired tear gas in reply to groups who dared to venture out, and there were numerous arrests.

There is some hope among protesters that Sunday may see larger demonstrations to take advantage of the presence of UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who arrived in Rangoon on Saturday. Opposition forces are hopeful some type of dialogue can begin with the junta with Gambari as mediator.

Authorities maintain a heavy presence around many of the most active monasteries in Rangoon and Mandalay. Many shopping malls, businesses, grocery stores and public parks are closed.

Ngwe Kyar Yan Monastery in Rangoon, the scene of a bloody overnight attack in which about 200 monks were detained early Thursday morning, has since been looted by army troops, according to sources close to the monastery. Everything of value was carted away, including scores of Buddha statues. The head of one of the largest Buddhas, embedded with valuable jewels, was cut off.

Meanwhile the price of basic food in Rangoon is increasing hour by hour. Some retail shops say rice stocks are very low. "I have rice to sell for only two or three days," said one shop owner. A dusk to dawn curfew in Rangoon and Mandalay has made life very difficult for the people.

Authorities cut Internet service within the country on Friday and phone service has been sporadic, further isolating residents.

The largest demonstration in the country on Saturday occurred in Kyaukpadaung in Mandalay Division when about 1,000 monks led an estimated 30,000 people in a peaceful march despite the heavy presence of security forces and military troops.

Sources say a disinformation campaign consisting of counter-demonstrations organized by the Union Solidarity and Development Association, a junta-backed group, has forced people from Kyaukpadaung, Myingyan and Nyaung Oo to demonstrate in support of the junta crackdown.
Over the past weeks, leaders and members of the National League for Democracy and other opposition groups in Rangoon, Mandalay, Magwe division and Arakan state have been arrested by local authorities, essentially decimating the ranks of the political opposition. Thand Nwe Oo, a youth leader of the NLD who was arrested in Thaingangyun Township is 6-months pregnant, said a source.

World Urges Burma to End Military Crackdown

Burma's main political and economic allies, China and Japan, joined other nations around the world in urging the country to use peaceful means to restore stability. The United States called on "all civilized nations" to press Burma's leaders to end their crackdown on demonstrators.

Japan, Burma's biggest aid contributor, lodged a protest over the death of a Japanese journalist, who was among at least nine people killed Thursday when soldiers fired automatic weapons into a crowd of unarmed demonstrators.

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said in a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown that China was "very much concerned about the current situation" in Myanmar, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"China hopes all parties in Myanmar [Burma] exercise restraint and use peaceful means to restore its stability as soon as possible," Wen said. He added the international community should offer constructive help to resolve the situation.

The White House accused Burmese military government of attempting to hide the violence, and urged "all civilized nations" to pressure the junta to stop it.

"They don't want the world to see what is going on there," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said Friday.

Laura Bush, the wife of US President George W Bush, and an advocate in recent weeks for Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, a prisoner of the junta, made a personal appeal for support for Burmese citizens. She said the acts of violence there "shame the military regime."

Bush and Brown talked about the situation via a video teleconference on Friday and agreed on the importance of the visit to Burma by UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari.

Stanzel said they agreed on "the need for countries around the world to continue to make their views clear to the junta."

Western diplomats were already complaining that Gambari would probably not be able to meet with senior opposition members or—apparently—the country's leader, Snr-Gen Than Shwe. His schedule was being set by Burmese government.

Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura protested the death of video journalist Kenji Nagai, 50, calling it "extremely regrettable," in a meeting with his Burmese counterpart, Nyan Win, at UN headquarters in New York on Friday, according to a Foreign Ministry official who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing protocol.

Nyan Win said he was "extremely sorry" for the death, the official said.

Japan, Burma's largest aid donor, has so far ruled out immediate sanctions against Burma but Komura suggested tougher steps could be taken.

Burma's military government says 10 people have been killed since it began cracking down on demonstrators on Wednesday. Brown said the number could be much higher.

"I am afraid we believe the loss of life is far greater than is being reported so far," the British prime minister said in a televised statement.

Dissident groups have put the number as high as 200, although that number could not be verified.
Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont scrapped a prepared speech about Thai democracy at the UN General Assembly at the last minute Friday and instead delivered an uncharacteristic attack against Burma, his country's neighbor, according to Thailand's The Nation newspaper.

He said both countries, being Buddhist, share beliefs in nonviolence and tolerance.
"Thailand, therefore, finds as unacceptable the use of violence and bodily harm to Buddhist monks and other demonstrators in Yangon [Rangoon]," the newspaper quoted him as saying.

Two Shot in Clash with Troops; People with Cameras Singled Out

At least two people were hit by gunfire when military troops opened fire on demonstrators on Friday afternoon in Kyauktada Township in central Rangoon, according to a witness, who said she narrowly escaped by hiding under a vehicle.

[Photo: Reuters]

She said the demonstrators were boxed in between Anawrahta Road and Maha Bandoola Road. Dozens of protesters were arrested, bound and beaten. The troops pursued fleeing people into buildings, she said, singling out people with cameras.

If they were arrested, the troops beat them while shouting, “Is it you who sends those pictures out?”
A Japanese cameraman was shot and killed on Thursday during a demonstration near Sule Pagoda. He appeared to have been shot point blank by a soldier while he was lying face up on the street.
Representatives who were elected in the 1990 elections that were nullified by the junta set out on a demonstration march in Rangoon around noon  Friday, on the third day of public protests in which military authorities have killed at least nine people. The number of injured is unknown, but it numbers in the hundreds.

Australian Ambassador Bob Davis told CNN that he believed the true death toll ran into "multiples" of the official figure.

In Rangoon, security forces and military soldiers began moving troops and equipment into place in during the early morning hours on Friday.

About 10 fire trucks took up positions around Rangoon’s City Hall, and about 12 empty military trucks were positioned at Bandoola Park, according to witnesses.

A main road leading to Sule Pagoda in central Rangoon was blocked with barbed wire.

Authorities also positioned security forces at Kandawgyi Park and the Livestock and Fisheries office in Kyeemyindaing Township, witnesses said.

Central Rangoon was the scene of repeated gunfire on Thursday as security forces tried to disperse tens of thousands of people calling for democracy and the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, the figurehead of the pro-democracy movement. Hundreds of people were arrested and taken away to unknown locations.

Meanwhile, overnight in Mandalay military troops raided Pauk Myaing Monastery around 7:30 p.m. while about 50 monks were praying in front of a Buddha statue, said sources close to the monastery.

The monks were knelling in prayer when attacked, beaten with batons and kicked with boots before being taken away by troops. The source said numerous monks were bleeding from the beatings. Most of the monks were arrested, but a few managed to escape.

When news of the raid spread, monks at other local monasteries started collecting weapons such as knives, spears and slingshots in an effort to defend themselves from raiding troops, the source said.
The monks said they will defend themselves if security forces attack their monasteries, and they urged the public to join them.

On Thursday, Burma’s Karen National Union issued a call for all ethnic ceasefire groups to rise up against the Burmese regime in solidarity with the people of Rangoon and Mandalay.

The Shan State Army-South, whose forces are defending areas of southeastern Burma against the Burmese army, also voiced its support for monks and other protesters resisting the regime's efforts to stamp out the rising opposition to its rule.

The KNU, in a statement issued on Thursday from its headquarters in Kawthoole, called on government troops to turn their guns on the ruling generals.

International Pressure Building on Burma

 Even as China and Russia continue to oppose any move to impose sanctions on Burma, the outcry of the world community against the Burmese military junta intensified on Thursday, as reports of more deaths of innocent people and monks protesting against the government came in.

The world’s wrath was more visible at the UN in New York where world leaders gathered to attend the 62nd Session of the General Assembly. Several leaders, including the U.S. president, strongly condemned the action taken by the military junta.

The issue was not only raised during the General Assembly debate, but also at several other meetings on the sidelines. One volatile situation arose when the Myanmar representative traded blows with the Asean foreign minister and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Rice told reporters after the meeting that she had an opportunity to address the issue with the Burmese representatives directly, but did not give any details. “I can just assure you that the US is determined to keep international focus on the travesty that is taking place in Rangoon,” she said.
Reflecting the mood of the larger global community, the Thai Prime Minister, Surayud Chulanont, said that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was appalled at reports of automatic weapons being used against demonstrators and that there had been fatalities.

“Thailand finds as unacceptable the commission of violence and bodily harm to Buddhist monks and other demonstrators,” he said in his speech before the General Assembly.

Observing that democracy must be achieved in a peaceful manner, Chulanont said: “We strongly urge Myanmar to exercise utmost restraint and seek a political solution and resume its efforts at national reconciliation with all parties concerned.”

Such statements coming from Asean countries were considered surprisingly forceful by diplomats at the UN. The Japanese Ambassador Yukio Takasu said the comments were “very strong.” The French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said pressure from Asean is the strongest tool the world community has to stop violence in Burma.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who has been taking a personal interest in the Burmese situation, said he was “pleased” with the decision of the Burmese authorities to allow Ibrahim Gambari, his Special Envoy on Burma, to visit the country on September 29.

Following reports of use of force by the military junta on peaceful protestors, the Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, dispatched Gambari to Burma on Wednesday night to take stock of the situation. However, at the time of leaving New York, he did not have a Burmese visa. It took much back-channel negotiations involving China until Burma finally agreed to allow Gambari a permit.
In a statement, the Secretary General called on the authorities to engage in constructive dialogue with Gambari, who will begin his visit on September 29, and “to commit to a path of peaceful and inclusive national reconciliation.”

The US Ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad emphasized the importance of allowing Gambari to meet all the relevant people, including the pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

“It is very important that after he has done that, he comes back and reports to the council, so that the council can evaluate, judge and make appropriate decisions,” he said. The ambassador said that the US would continue to focus on Burma.

In Washington, the Chinese Foreign Minister met the US President, George W. Bush. The visiting dignitary informed Bush about the Chinese efforts to seek the co-operation of the Burmese authorities in this regard.

Commending the courage and leadership of the Buddhist monks to take on the military junta, the US President said in a statement: “We feel admiration and compassion for the monks and peaceful protesters calling for democracy.”

Bush called on all the nations that have any influence with the regime to support the aspirations of the people of Burma and “tell the Burmese Junta to cease using force on its own people.”

“I urge the Burmese soldiers and police not to use force on their fellow citizens. I call on those who embrace the values of human rights and freedom to support the legitimate demands of the Burmese people,” Bush said.

A US State Department spokesperson urged Asean countries—and to a larger extent, India and China—to us their influence with the Burmese military “to do what they can to put pressure on the Burmese regime.”

Japan to Demand Full Explanation of Journalist Death

Japan will press Burma for a full explanation of the death of a Japanese journalist during a violent crackdown on anti-government protests, officials said Friday.

Kenji Nagai was among nine people killed Thursday when soldiers fired automatic weapons into a crowd of pro-democracy demonstrators. Nagai, 50, a video-journalist, was working for Japanese news agency APF News.

Officials have said Nagai was believed to have been shot in the chest. There were conflicting reports that he was struck by stray bullets fired by Burmese soldiers or shot from the front.

"We offer our prayers and condolences for him," Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said. "I think what's most important at the moment is to demand a full accounting of what happened."

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said Nagai's death was "extremely unfortunate."
"We hope the Myanmar [Burmese] government will give us a full explanation," Fukuda said.
He said, however, that Japan needs to take the whole situation into account before considering the possibility of sanctions.

Deputy Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka was scheduled to visit Burma this weekend to express Japan's anger to the ruling military junta, according to officials.

"I don't want Myanmar authorities and the government to resort to such measures," Nagai's father, Hideo, told reporters. "I want them to prevent something like this from happening again."

Echoes around the World: Free Burma!

People all over the world—Burmese and non-Burmese—are demonstrating in support of the monks and uniting in condemnation of the country’s military dictators.

In solidarity with the Burmese monks who have been leading the demonstrations on behalf of millions of people in Burma, about ten Thai monks have joined the protest in front of the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok.

In the last two days, Burmese communities in Australia, United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand and other countries have participated in demonstrations, organized after the Burmese security forces and soldiers fired at protesters in Rangoon on Wednesday.

Canadian Friends of Burma, an NGO that helped organize the protest in Ottawa, released a statement which read: “We Canadian civil society organizations and individuals need to show our support for this movement and demand the Government of Canada and international community respond quickly to the appalling situation in Burma.”

About 2,000 expatriate Burmese held a protest in Kuala Lumpur this morning. Many people in South East Asia are concerned about the situation in Burma and have expressed their sympathy for the Burmese monks and civilians. Most are united in calling for the regime to respect the fundamental human rights of all Burmese citizens.

And at the Thai-Burmese border, citizens from both nations held a small protest under the Thai-Burma Friendship Bridge on the Moei River banks on Wednesday evening.

Exiled Burmese in Europe and the United States are demanding that the military government lower fuel prices, release Aung San Su Kyi and enter into genuine dialogue with the democratic opposition leaders in their home country. They have also called on the United Nations to seize the initiative in the quest for democracy in Burma.

“We do not want only speeches or statements; we want action on Burma,” said a Burmese dissident who was protesting in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York.

With compassion and emotion, Burmese émigrés in all corners of the world have been tearfully nostalgic and have taken to singing revolutionary songs. Their rallying cry —“Free Aung Sang Su Kyi and Burma” has been echoed by world leaders demanding the release of the charismatic NLD leader who has spent a total of 12 years under house arrest for her attempts to bring democracy to Burma.
“International intervention is immediately needed in Burma,” said Tin Maung Htoo of Canadian Friends of Burma.

Burmese Monks Seek Security Council Intervention

Eminent Buddhist monks living in the US and Europe Thursday urged the UN Security Council for immediate intervention in Burma to prevent further bloodshed.

 In a letter to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and members of the Security Council, the monks said the situation in Burma has deteriorated beyond control and the military junta is killing, beating and arresting monks throughout the country.

“We believe that the people of Burma deserve the UN Security Council’s immediate protection from this brutal military junta. We request that you take effective and collective action to protect the people of Burma/Myanmar now without further delay,” said the letter which was signed by 18 eminent monks living in the US and Europe.

“We remind the UN Security Council of its mandate to maintain peace and stability in the world and declare there is evidence enough that the situation in Burma under the SPDC is amounting to a threat to peace and stability in the region,” the letter said.

“UN Security Council also has a responsibility to protect the people who are brutalized by their own government, according to the UNSC resolution 1674 (2006) and the 2005 World Summit Outcome’s paragraph 138-140,” the monks said.

There are sharp differences among the members of the Security Council on the Burma issue. While Countries led by Russia and China believe that the situation does not constitute a threat to regional peace and stability, the other three permanent members— the US, Britain and France—want stronger action by the Security Council.

Meanwhile, The Alliance of All Burma Buddhist Monks, a group that has been at the forefront of organizing anti-junta demonstrations, has announced a boycott of all Burmese embassies and missions.

The monks informed the UN that starting Thursday, “We will not accept any offerings or donations from staff members or supporters of Burmese embassies in the US and other countries, and we will not attend any social or religious functions conducted by them.”

The group said its boycott would continue until four major demands are met by the military junta: (1) an apologize to the monks who were brutally beaten by authorities; (2) to immediately reduce the prices of basic commodities and fuel; (3) to release all detainees including Aung San Suu Kyi and (4) to engage with political and ethnic representatives in a meaningful dialogue to solve problems peacefully.

Rangoon Under Siege

Detailed Story, Please read HERE

Rangoon was covered with gunfire smoke on Thursday as security forces and armed military troops used an iron fist to disperse tens of thousands of demonstrators in the second day of the Burmese junta's crackdown on the largest democracy uprising in 20 years.

State media reported Thursday evening that nine protesters were killed. Witnesses in Rangoon say that the death toll could be higher. Security forces attempted to disperse tens of thousands of people gathered near Sule Pagoda in Rangoon and South Okkalapa Township on Thursday afternoon, witnesses said. Scores of people were beaten by security forces.

Troops fired directly into protesting crowds, using automatic weapons on at least one occasion. Warning shots were also fired above the heads of protesters as an estimated 70,000 anti-government demonstrators braved the overpowering force of the troops and security forces.

Protesters were outraged at security forces following an overnight raid on at least three Buddhist monasteries. Soldiers reportedly beat up and arrested about 700 monks, who had spearheaded the largest challenge to the junta since a failed democracy uprising in 1988. One monk reportedly died.

The Japanese Embassy reported on Thursday evening that a Japanese photojournalist died in the gunfire. Pictures released on the Internet show the journalist lying on his back in the street with one hand raised up holding his camera. A soldier wearing flip flops is pointing his rifle at the journalist. A second photograph shows the journalist's face contorted and his arm now rests on the ground, apparently shot a second time at point blank range. The photojournalist was Kenji Nagai, 51, according to the Japanese video news agency APF News.

It is believed that security forces issued a 10-minute warning to the pro-democracy demonstrators to disperse from the area around Sule Pagodas or face "extreme action."

The gunfire came on the second day of a bloody crackdown that began on Wednesday when five monks died from gunfire or were beaten to death by security forces.

In other news, a number of foreign ambassadors are reportedly now in Naypyidaw to discuss the junta's actions during the crackdown. Some Western governments are said to be considering pulling their embassies out of Burma to protest against the military government's actions.

A spokesman for the monks told the international media on Thursday they are demanding the junta lower fuel prices, release Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest and begin a real dialogue with the democratic opposition leaders in the country. Similar demands have been made by many countries and organizations in the recent past.

Overnight, more monks were surrounded and attacked in at least three monasteries. One monk reportedly died and many were beaten. The hallways and rooms of one monastery were splattered with blood. An estimated 700 monks were taken away by security forces.

Thousands of protesters who were dispersed when soldiers fired into the demonstrators near the center of Rangoon on Thursday regathered and then walked to Tamwe Township in eastern Rangoon, a protester told The Irrawaddy. He said most of the protesters were determined to continue the demonstrations despite the danger. After troops fired on the crowd, about 100 people were arrested and taken away.

Later in the day, protesters reached Tamwe Township where they were again confronted by security forces who surrounded the protestors and fired into the crowd.

A short while later, bloggers and e-mail reports said that military vehicles were driving through the town firing randomly into peaceful crowds, apparently in an effort to spark terror throughout the city.

Soldiers also entered Traders Hotel situated in the heart of Rangoon near Sule pagoda on Thursday afternoon and searched it room by room, according to sources. It was thought the soldiers were searching for foreign journalists suspected of capturing video from a hotel room window and reporting clandestinely on the crackdown to international media.

At least three monasteries were stormed under gunfire by troops and riot police early Thursday morning, reportedly killing one monk and injuring many others. Only monastery sick-bay patients were left alone as the monks were beaten, kicked and forced out of the monasteries and into waiting vehicles. It was not known where they were taken.

In South Okkalapa Township, one center of resistance in the 1988 popular uprising, tens of thousands of angry residents besieged security forces guarding New Kyar Yan monastery.

They Came in the Night, Ready to Kill

The military government has no conscience and it’s cruel. It has no heart or sympathy for its own people—not even respect for the monks.

The government’s forces beat and shot peaceful demonstrators and monks, killing and injuring many of them.

Soldiers look into the innocent faces of peaceful demonstrators and shoot them in cold blood.

During the night from Wednesday to Thursday, hundreds of soldiers, riot police and members of the pro-junta paramilitary organization Union Solidarity and Development Association raided several monasteries in Rangoon and beat and arrested hundreds of monks, novices and others.
One of the raided monasteries, Maggin, has become a refuge for HIV/AIDS patients after the authorities launched a manhunt for those taking care of them when they took part in the recent demonstrations against the sharp rises in fuel prices and other commodities. The abbot and four senior monks, two of them over 80, were arrested, along with four other people found at the monastery.

The HIV/AIDS patients live in one of two buildings at the monastery. “We and the novices now feel dejected,” said one. “We have no one to taking care of us. The novices share their alms with us.”

A novice tries to console him. “Phone Phone [Senior Monks] will be back tonight.”

The patient is doubtful. “How can we know?”

The novice says: “I think if Phone Phone convince them [the authorities] that they are innocent they will be released.”

“We believe the monks are innocent,” the patient replies. “But we do not know how they [authorities] think, and why they arrested the monks.”

This exchange was recounted to The Irrawaddy by telephone on Thursday.

The patient said he awoke at midnight to the sound of whistling and movement outside. He went to the window and saw many uniformed soldiers in the monastery compound, carrying guns and batons.

The soldiers walked through the monastery in their combat boots, kicking novices awake. They poked the abbot awake with a baton.

The soldiers then entered the building housing the HIV/AIDS patients. The patients were at first mishandled but were then released after showing documents confirming they were receiving treatment.

“None of us dared to speak out,” the patient said.

“They looked as if they would kill anyone who spoke out. I was afraid and didn’t dare to move.  I am also very afraid of them and dare not to move. They looked evil and ready to kill.”

Indian MP Criticizes Government over Burma Policy

Members of India's parliament have criticized the ruling government for failing to push Burma's military government on the path to democracy and national reconciliation.

The Indian government signed a gas contract with Burma's government earlier this week in the midst of a national uprising that has seen the junta open fire on monks and civilians, killing at least five monks and injuring scores of pro-democracy demonstrators.

Dr. Nirmala Deshpande, a member of the upper Indian parliament group, said the Indian government has not done enough for democracy in Burma.

“They [the government] should have sympathy on the Burmese people and take the initiative to pressure the military government to release political prisoners including Aung San Su Kyi,” said Nirmala Deshpande.

Earlier this week. India's Minister of Oil and Gas, Murli S Deora, met with military regime leaders in the capital of Naypyidaw.

According to the state-own newspaper, The New Light of Myanmar, the India delegation signed a production sharing contract and discussed energy issues.

Soe Myint, the chief editor of the India-based Burmese newspaper Mizzima, said it was strange for the Indian government to discuss oil and gas investments when there were massive protests in Burma sparked by a doubling of petrol and diesel prices.

"The Indian government is taking this chance to exploit Burmese citizens," he said.

The India government issued an official statement on Burma on Wednesday. "It is our hope that all sides will resolve their issues peacefully through dialogue,” the statement said.

Soe Myint said he believed the government issued the statement because of pressure from the US government and other countries.

Asean Countries Voice Concern over Burma's Crackdown

Asean countries expressed dire concerns about the Burmese military government's violent crack down on pro-democracy demonstrations this week.

Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on Thursday, saying, “Singapore welcomes the decision of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to send Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari to Burma. We fully support any initiative by the UN which would help defuse the situation.”

The ministry urged Burma authorities to admit Gambari into the country and grant him full access to all political leaders in Burma.

The statement noted that the situation in Burma affects all Asean countries.

On Wednesday, Thai interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanond said Thailand will work with other countries to seek a resolution to the violence.

At least five monks were killed by government security forces on Wednesday and scores of monks and civilians were beaten and arrested. On Thursday afternoon, security forces fired into a large crowd near the center of Rangoon, reportedly injuring around 10 people.

“Thailand does not have the power or the resources to solve Burma's problems, and we must work together with countries including China and India,” Surayud said while he was in New York to attend in UN General Assembly session.

He said he hoped the situation would not require Thai citizens to be evacuated from Burma or effect security or the refugee situation along the Thailand-Burma border area.

Gen Bunrod Somtat, Thailand’s Minister of Defense, has postponed a scheduled visit to Burma until the situation returns to normal.  

On Thursday morning, a group of Burmese and Thai students demonstrated in front of the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok, urging China and India to stop supporting the Burmese government.  

Meanwhile, 15 Buddhists and human rights organizations in Thailand have submitted a letter to the Sangha in Thailand urging them to ask the Burmese government to solve their problems peacefully.
“Thailand and Burma believe in Buddhism so we urge the Thai Sangha to send good wishes to find a resolution with peace and to prevent bloodshed,” said Rotsana Tositrakul, a representative from the group.

On Wednesday, The Buddhists and Khmer Society Network in Cambodia, individual Buddhist and social activists and other Buddhists released a statement in solidarity with the Buddhist peace movement in Burma.

“A violent action is not sustainable. Importantly, as Buddha said, nothing is permanent, even the power someone holds. So, start now to work for a peace reconciliation before it is too late,” the statement said.

China Calls on All Sides in Burma to Exercise Restraint

China issued an evenhanded plea for calm in Burma on Thursday, calling on all sides to exercise restraint but asking the military-led government to "properly deal" with the unfolding conflict.
"China hopes that all parties in Myanmar [Burma] exercise restraint and properly handle the current issue so as to ensure the situation there does not escalate and get complicated," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a twice-weekly media briefing.

Jiang said that order should be restored quickly so that neither Burma's nor the region's stability was affected and called on its government to address the domestic tensions that caused the unrest.
"We hope that Myanmar would be devoted to improving the people's welfare, maintaining national harmony, and properly dealing with its domestic social conflict so that as to restore peace at an early date," she said.

The crackdown by Burma's junta against democracy demonstrators, many of them Buddhist monks, has put China in a bind. The communist government has developed close diplomatic ties with junta leaders and is a major trading partner and investor in its neighbor. But with the Beijing Olympics 11 months away, China is eager to fend off criticism that it shelters unpopular or abusive regimes around the world.

Jiang said she had no information on whether Beijing had dispatched envoys to Burma or the junta had sent emissaries to China.

In her appeal for restraint, Jiang urged the foreign media not to aggravate tensions in Burma by "exaggerating and hyping up" the situation in their reports. "We do not believe that is responsible," she said.

Japanese National Killed in Protest in Burma

Several people, including a Japanese national, have been found dead following protests in Burma, Japanese officials said Thursday, citing Burmese officials.

Japanese Embassy officials in Rangoon were told by Burma's Foreign Ministry that one of the several people found dead following protests Thursday was believed to be a Japanese man, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said on customary condition of anonymity.

He said, however, other details, including how they died, were not immediately known.
Embassy officials headed for a hospital to confirm the death, the ministry official said.
Kyodo News agency later said embassy officials could not identify the body.

The man killed was believed to be a 50-year-old journalist, Kanji Nagai, according to Japanese video news agency APF News, which had a contract with him.

Nagai had been covering the protests in Yangon since Tuesday, APF representative Toru Yamaji told The Associated Press.

Yamaji said he last spoke with Nagai in Thursday afternoon but has lost contact with him since.
"It was extremely regrettable that the accident occurred as a result of a crackdown on protests," Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said on a televised news show on public broadcaster NHK. "We urge (Burma) to respond calmly."

Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Hitoshi Kimura summoned Burmese Ambassador to Japan Hla Myint to express "regret" over the reported death of a Japanese, and urged him to take appropriate measures to resolve the unrest in his country, another ministry official said on condition of anonymity. Kimura expressed concerns about the safety of Japanese nationals in Burma.

More than 600 Japanese live in Burma, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Japanese Foreign Ministry raised a travel advisory to a warning Wednesday, urging Japanese nationals to avoid trips to Burma and advised those already in the area to use utmost caution.

UN Security Council Expresses Concern over Crackdown

After initial resistance from China, the UN Security Council issued a statement of concern about Burma's violent crackdown on Buddhist monks and urged the military regime to let in a special envoy.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, was expected to leave for the region Wednesday night after briefing the emergency council meeting in the afternoon on the fatal violence.

Council diplomats said China, which has close economic ties to Burma, did not want any document issued after the closed-door session but relented and agreed to a brief statement, which was read to reporters by France's UN Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert.

"Members of the council have expressed their concern vis a vis the situation, and have urged restraint, especially from the government of Myanmar [Burma]," the statement said.
The junta's forces opened fire on anti-government protesters in the center of the country's largest city, Rangoon. At least five people died, including monks.

Ban called on Burma's government to exercise its "utmost restraint" and later met one-on-one with Burma's Foreign Minister Nyan Win. On the way to the meeting, a reporter asked about the five reported deaths and Win replied: "You asked if five people died and we said no."

The council's statement said it "welcomed the decision by the secretary-general to urgently dispatch his special envoy to the region and underlines the importance that Mr Gambari be received by the authorities of Myanmar [Burma] as soon as possible."

Indonesia's new UN Ambassador Marty Natalegawa said Burma was not on the agenda of a ministerial meeting Thursday of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Asean, on the sidelines of the high-level UN General Assembly session, but the violence was likely to come up. Burma is a member of the 10-nation group.

The United States and the council's European Union members—Britain, France, Italy and Belgium—had condemned the attacks and called on the country's military rulers to stop the violence and open a dialogue with pro-democracy leaders.

"What's going on in Burma is outrageous," US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said after a luncheon meeting of ministers from the eight major industrialized nations. "The regime needs to stop using violence against peaceful people and get to a dialogue so that they can have reconciliation."

China and Russia contend that the situation in Burma is an internal affair and doesn't threaten international peace and security—as required for Security Council action—so getting them to agree to the press statement was considered a positive step.

"It is a huge breakthrough," Yvonne Terlingen, UN representative for Amnesty International, told AP Wednesday night. "It is unprecedented that the Security Council made a statement about human rights in Burma—and that is very important."

China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya told reporters after the meeting that the most important thing is to see that the Burma authorities "restore stability," and to get Gambari into the country as soon as possible.

"China is a neighbor to Myanmar [Burma], so we more than anyone else wish to see that Myanmar [Burma] will achieve stability, national reconciliation, and we want to see them making progress on the road of democratization," he said. "We hope that the government and people there could just sort out their differences."

Wang said that he believed sanctions would not be helpful. He added that "these problems now at this stage (do) not constitute a threat to international and regional peace and stability."

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Remains in Rangoon Residence

An Asian diplomat told The Associated Press on Thursday that Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi remains in her Rangoon home, contrary to rumors that she had been imprisoned.

The diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters, said the opposition leader was not taken to the city's notorious Insein prison—as some had feared—but remains in the house where she has been detained for nearly 12 years.

The diplomat said that junta had deployed more security forces around Suu Kyi's house and on the road leading to her residential compound and that more than 100 soldiers were now inside the compound.

"The sign of increasing security forces make me confident that she is still there," the diplomat said. He said others told him that they had seen the diminutive opposition leader in her home Wednesday night.

The diplomat also said flyers were spreading around the nation's largest city of Rangoon on Thursday morning encouraging more civilians to join the protest.

There was a fleeting appearance on Saturday of Suu Kyi at the gate of her residence when she appeared to pay respect to the thousands of monks who marched past her home, demanding her release and protesting against increased fuel and food prices.

Suu Kyi, 62, is the leader of the National League for Democracy party, which won a 1990 general election but was not allowed to take power by the military. She has been under detention continuously since May 2003.

Burmese Troops Fire on Rangoon Protestors; Unconfirmed Reports say Five Monks, One Woman Dead

Burmese security forces fired directly on protesting monks and other demonstrators in Rangoon on Wednesday, reportedly killing five monks and one woman in separate Rangoon clashes, according to unconfirmed reports.

Monks praying in front of armed troops in Rangoon, September 26, 2007 [Photo: Reuters]

On-the-scene reports to The Irrawaddy said the monks died when troops and security forces opened fire on at least two separate demonstrations. Troops reportedly fired over the heads of protesters on some occasions and fired directly at protestors on other occasions.

The reports of deaths and injuries were impossible to confirm on Wednesday.
The deaths reportedly occurred as different columns of monks walked through the city on Wednesday.

Nyan Win, a National League for Democracy spokesperson, said he heard reports that three monks and one woman had been killed by gunfire.

AFP, the French news agency, reported Wednesday night that at least two Burmese officials said three monks were dead. The AFP report said one monk died as he tried to take a weapon away from a soldier, and two others were beaten to death.

In the military-ruled government of Burma, information is severely restricted and accurate reports of the number of dead and injured are difficult to verify.

Witnesses said the military government fired at protesters, hurled tear gas and wielded batons to break up protests in Rangoon. In Mandalay, shots were fired over the heads of protestors.
In both cities, security forces rounded up and arrested many protest leaders and others, according to sources on the scene.

During Wednesday morning, military forces and police in Rangoon blocked the road to Shwedagon Pagoda and confronted thousands of monks and civilians who gathered outside the pagoda, one of the holiest sites in Burma.

On Wednesday afternoon, protesters and security forces also clashed again near Shwedagon Pagoda and later on a road leading to Sule Pagoda. 

Dozens of protesters and activists including members of the NLD, protesting Buddhist monks and other protest leaders were arrested throughout the day at different areas in Rangoon, in Mandalay and in Kachin state.   

In Rangoon, two well-known activists, the veteran politician Amyotheryei Win Naing and the popular Burmese comedian Zarganar, were arrested overnight on Tuesday.

The well-known Burmese actor Kyaw Thu and the poet Aung Win are being sought by authorities for their role in aiding monks in recent days, according to sources.

In Mandalay, security forces fired warning shots and used teargas to break up an estimated 10,000 protesting monks who marched through the city, according to local residents. One source said that after troops fired warning shots over the heads of the monks, they continued on with their march.

Also in Mandalay, three members of the NLD, Tin Aung, Khin Maung Thaung and Myo Naing, and well-known comedian Par Par Lay, were arrested on Wednesday after they offered alms to monks.
In other areas, more than 200 monks in Myitkyina and Bamaw in Kachin state in northern Burma were arrested in a midnight raid on Tuesday. More monks in the area were detained on Wednesday morning, while others escaped and are in hiding. Many phone lines were cut off in the area, residents said.

The junta declared a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. in Rangoon and Mandalay on Tuesday and banned any gathering of more than five people. Thousands of monks and citizens ignored the ban on Wednesday.

Security forces and police took up positions around Rangoon City Hall and many monasteries on Wednesday. Security was also increased in Pegu and Mandalay, in Sagaing Division and in Arakan, Mon and Kachin states.

The phone lines of many pro-democracy activists and many members of a volunteer medical team that has followed Rangoon demonstrations also have been cut off by the military government.

Bush Announces Tighter Sanctions on Burma

Stating that the "Americans are outraged" by the situation in Burma, where a military junta has imposed a 19-year long reign of fear, US President George W Bush on Tuesday announced a tightening of economic sanctions and visa restrictions on the generals and their families.
Addressing the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly, Bush also urged the UN and the international community to use their diplomatic and economic leverage to help the Burmese people reclaim their freedom.

Bush announced three major measures against the military regime. First, he said, the US will tighten economic sanctions on the leaders of the regime and their financial backers. Secondly the US will impose an expanded visa ban on those responsible for the most egregious violations of human rights, as well as their family members. Thirdly, the US will facilitate the efforts of humanitarian groups working to alleviate suffering in Burma.

As expected, Burma constituted a major part of his speech at the UN, during which he said the world body must work to free people from tyranny and violence, hunger and disease, illiteracy and ignorance, and poverty and despair.

"Every civilized nation has a responsibility to stand up for people suffering under dictatorship," Bush said. In Belarus, Cuba, North Korea, Zimbabwe, Syria, and Iran, brutal regimes deny their people the fundamental rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"Americans are also outraged by the situation in Burma, where a military junta has imposed a 19-year reign of fear," Bush said.

US Lawmakers Welcome Bush's New Sanctions on Burma

Two powerful American lawmakers on Tuesday welcomed the decision of US President George Bush to impose additional economic sanctions on Burma.

"The president has taken appropriate action to support these brave demonstrators by further restricting the ability of Burma's despicable leadership to travel and spend their ill-gotten cash freely," Sen Tom Lantos said soon after Bush spoke on Burma at the UN General Assembly.

The chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Lantos voiced his support for the administration's proposals to tighten financial and travel sanctions on key Burmese leaders in response to the ongoing demonstrations.

"As the people of Burma risk everything to stand up for their most fundamental rights, all responsible leaders of the world should join this call for peaceful change in Burma. In particular, the members of the UN Security Council, the Asean countries and other influential countries such as India must take this important stand for human rights and democracy," Lantos said.

Lantos warned Burma's leadership against a violent response that would echo the 1988 government crackdown in which thousands of protesters were killed.

"The international community must be united in making clear to Burma's military thugs that they will face dire consequences if they make the terrible mistake of cracking down and spilling the blood of innocent lives," he said. "If they are again on the wrong side of history, they must understand that they will be hunted down and dragged before an international tribunal to be tried for crimes against humanity," he said.

Applauding the statement made by the US President George W Bush announcing more sanctions against Burma, Sen Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) said: "The SPDC will not give way easily to peaceful protest and resistance. We must let those in Burma who seek peaceful change know that they do not stand alone."

The senator said now is the time for UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari to seize the moment and use the office of the secretary-seneral to work for the betterment of the Burmese people.

"He and the secretary-general himself need to be working diligently to ensure that the momentum of the last several weeks is not lost and is instead translated into real progress toward the democratization of Burma; the release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi; and the inclusion of ethnic minorities in a peaceful reconciliation process. This is all the more important since the UN Security Council has until now been paralyzed on issues involving Burma because of China's intransigence," he said.

McConnell said the world is not only cheering the people of Burma in their heroic struggle, and keeping a close eye on the SPDC to see how it responds to peaceful demonstrators, it is also watching the United Nations to ensure that the international body lives up to its mandate and does not permit this precious moment to slip away.

Observing that pressure is mounting on the Burma's regime, he said the junta should follow the pragmatic model of apartheid South Africa in the early 1990s: recognize the need to enter into good faith negotiations with the legitimate leaders of the people.

The efforts of the monks and citizens who have taken to the streets in demonstrations evoke memories of 1989 when equally brave men and women stood up to Communist oppression in Europe and watched equally cruel regimes crumble, he said.

Observing that Burma's two giant neighbors have good military and financial ties with the junta, the senator said India and both have a major stake in a prosperous and democratic Burma emerging from this unrest.

"Failure to act in a constructive manner would be a poor reflection on India, the world's largest democracy. Failure to act in a meaningful manner would also be a poor reflection on China as that nation begins efforts to showcase itself for the 2008 Beijing Olympics," the senator said.

Noting the courage of the people of Burma and the monks in particular, the senator said: "Imagine the courage of their actions. Their non-violent response subjects them to potential imprisonment and torture from a regime that has done far more, to citizens who have done far less."

Warning the military junta of any military action against the peaceful demonstrators, the senator said: "As the government of Burma you are responsible for the safety and well-being of the demonstrators and also of Aung San Suu Kyi."

Burma, Somalia Ranked Worst in 2007 Corruption Index

Burma and Somalia have been ranked as the most corrupt nations in Transparency International's 2007 index, released Wednesday—adding pressure to the Southeast Asian country's military regime as it faces the biggest anti-government protests in nearly two decades.

Transparency International's 2007 Corruption Perceptions Index scored 180 countries based on the degree to which corruption is perceived among public officials and politicians.

Burma and Somalia received the lowest score of 1.4 out of 10.

Denmark, Finland and New Zealand were ranked the least corrupt—each scoring 9.4.

"Countries torn apart by conflict pay a huge toll in their capacity to govern," the agency's international chairman Huguette Labelle said in a statement. "With public institutions crippled or nonexistent, mercenary individuals help themselves to public resources and corruption thrives."
Western governments have accused Burma's junta—which seized power in 1988—of turning what was once a jewel of Southeast Asia into one of its most miserable places through repression, mismanagement and corruption.

Burma's business elite thrive by serving the generals, while many in the country go without regular food and electricity, the top US diplomat in Burma, Shari Villarosa, told reporters earlier this year.
Somalia has been ravaged by violence and anarchy since warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 and then turned on one another. The current, UN-backed government was formed in 2004, but has struggled to assert any real control.

Faring the best in the survey were Denmark, Finland and New Zealand, in a first-place tie with each scoring of 9.4.

The agency's scale is based on the perceptions of the degree of corruption by businesspeople and country analysts. Countries are ranked out of 10, and any score below 5 indicates "serious" perceived levels of corruption, while scores below 3 reflect "rampant" corruption, the agency said.

EU Urges Burma to Avoid Crackdown against Street Protests

European Union officials appealed to Burma's military junta on Tuesday not to launch a crackdown against tens of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators, urging the government to seek negotiations to solve the showdown.

EU spokesman Amadeu Altafaj Tardio said the 27-nation bloc was "very concerned" about the situation in Myanmar adding EU officials were watching the situation closely, but said the EU was at this time not considering an expansion of sanctions against the junta.

US President George W Bush was expected to announce additional sanctions later Tuesday meant to further isolate key members of the junta and those who provide them financial aid.

"So far no violence has been used to quell peaceful demonstrations, however we are also concerned by the increasing military presence on the streets," Altafaj Tardio told reporters. "We are urging all stakeholders, particularly the government of Burma/Myanmar to exercise maximum restraint."
Stability and peace "can only be achieved through political reform," said a statement issued by the office of EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who was at the United Nations in New York where Burma was being discussed at the opening of the UN's General Assembly. Solana urged Burma's government to show "tangible progress" in seeking political dialogue with opposition groups, and to release political prisoners including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy who has been under house arrest for 12 of the past 18 years.

EU nations extended a series of diplomatic and economic sanctions against Burma in April for another year to protest the lack of political reforms and its dismal human rights record.

Sanctions were first imposed in 1996 and include a ban on travel to Europe for top government officials, an assets freeze and a ban on arms sales to the Asian country.

Burmese Junta Warns Protesting Monks

Burma's military government issued the country's Buddhist clergy a veiled threat of reprisals after barefoot monks led some 100,000 people on the biggest pro-democracy march the country has seen in nearly two decades.

The warning Monday shows the increasing pressure the junta is under to either crack down on or compromise with a reinvigorated democracy movement. The monks have taken their traditional role as the conscience of society, backing the military into a corner from which it may lash out again.

The authorities did not stop the protests Monday, even as they built to a scale and fervor that rivaled the pro-democracy uprising of 1988 when the military fired on peaceful crowds and killed thousands, terrorizing the country. The government has been handling the monks gingerly, wary of raising the ire of ordinary citizens in this devout, predominantly Buddhist nation.

However, on Monday night the country's religious affairs minister appeared on state television to accuse the monks of being manipulated by the regime's domestic and foreign enemies.
Meeting with senior monks at Rangoon's Kabar Aye Pagoda, Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung said the protesting monks represented just 2 percent of the country's population. He suggested that if senior monks did not restrain them, the government would act according to its own regulations, which he did not detail.

Also on Monday, the US government weighed in with the threat of additional sanctions against the Burmese regime and those who provide it with financial aid.

President George W Bush was expected to announce the sanctions Tuesday at the UN General Assembly. The United States restricts imports and exports and financial transactions with Burma.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged authorities in Burma to exercise restraint in the face of the protests and expressed hope the military-led government would "seize this opportunity" to include all opposition groups in the political process.

The current protests began on August 19 after the government sharply raised fuel prices in what is one of Asia's poorest countries. But they are based in deep-rooted dissatisfaction with the repressive military government that has ruled the country in one form or another since 1962.

"I don't like the government," a 20-year-old monk participating in the protest in the central city of Mandalay told The Associated Press. "The government is very cruel and our country is full of troubles."

Ordinary people have similar views, even if they may not act on them.

"I don't like the government because it only thinks about itself. But there is nothing I can do. If I join the protest, I will lose everything," said a hotel worker, also in Mandalay. Both she and the monk asked not to be named for fear of the authorities.

The protests over economic conditions were faltering when the monks last week took over leadership and assumed a role they played in previous battles against British colonialism and military dictators. At first the robed monks simply chanted and prayed. But as the public joined the march, the demonstrators demanded national reconciliation—meaning dialogue between the government and opposition parties—and freedom for political prisoners, as well as adequate food, shelter and clothing.

The fleeting appearance of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi at the gate of the Rangoon residence where she is under house arrest squarely identified the protests with the longtime peaceful struggle of her party, the opposition National League Democracy. She has been under detention for 12 of the past 18 years.

In what appeared to be a miscalculation by the junta, a crowd of about 500 monks and sympathizers was let through police barricades Saturday to her home, where she briefly greeted them in her first public appearance in four years.

France Urges More EU Sanctions against Burma

A French government official urged stronger European Union sanctions against Burma's junta on Wednesday, as President Nicolas Sarkozy planned to meet with opponents of the Southeast Asian nation's regime.

As anti-government protests continued in Burma, with security forces firing warning shots and tear gas, France's European affairs minister, Jean-Pierre Jouyet, said the situation there was unacceptable and getting worse. He called the protests "completely legitimate."

"Among Europeans, we must discuss the necessity of reinforcing sanctions against the junta," he told France-Info radio.

The EU had threatened a day earlier to strengthen existing sanctions against the regime if it uses violence to put down the demonstrations. US President George W Bush announced a new set of financial sanctions against Burma at the UN General Assembly, aimed at pressuring what he called "a 19-year reign of fear."

In Britain, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said that the British ambassador in Burma, Mark Canning, believes that "the international community's voice is a factor in the discussions that are going on there."

"It's very important that we continue to maintain this unanimous international call for restraint, and also an international message that there will be accountability in respect of any decisions that are taken, but restraint must be the order of the day," Miliband told reporters.

"In all of our discussions we are emphasizing the need for restraint, and clearly there is a degree of caution being exercised ... in the minds of the regime, but it's clearly important that they continue to understand that restraint must be the order of the day," he added.

Burma's security forces hauled militant Buddhist monks away in trucks Wednesday as they tried to stop anti-government demonstrations in defiance of a ban on assembly.

Following eight days of anti-government marches led by monks in Rangoon and other areas of the country—including the biggest protests in nearly two decades—the junta had banned all public gatherings of more than five people and imposed a nighttime curfew.

The French president announced at the UN General Assembly that he would meet with Burma opposition figures. He did not say specifically who he would speak with. Info Birmanie, a French group supporting the Burmese opposition, said he had invited Sein Win, an exiled opposition leader, to the Elysee Palace.

Frederic Debomy, coordinator of Info Birmanie, said Sein Win's meeting would be the first between a French president and the Southeast Asian country's opposition.

"It was a lack of interest, the (Burmese) opposition was not central enough to their strategy before," he said of French officials. Sarkozy came to office in May, pledging that France would "be at the side of the world's oppressed."

In an interview with French Roman Catholic daily La Croix, Sein Win said he believed the confrontation between the protesters and the authorities would end in spilled blood.

"In the end, it is clear that the army will fire on the crowd," La Croix quoted him as saying.
Asked what he would tell Sarkozy, Win said: "Above all, not to use force" and seek as quickly as possible a Security Council meeting.

UN Secretary General to Burmese Junta: Exercise Restraint

The UN secretary-general has called on the Burmese military junta to "exercise restraint" in handling the ongoing civil protest in the country.

The statement from the secretary-general on Monday came in the wake of media reports that the junta is considering taking military action against demonstrators who have been marching throughout the country during the past weeks.

In his statement, Ban Ki-moon commended the peaceful approach adopted by the demonstrators to press for their demand.

"The secretary-general hopes that the government will seize this opportunity to engage without delay in dialogue with all the relevant parties to a national reconciliation process on the issues of concern to the people of Myanmar," said a UN statement.

Bush to Raise Burma Issue at UN

US President George Bush in his speech at the UN on Tuesday will announce additional sanctions on the Burmese military junta and urge other countries to support a process of political change in Burma, the White House said on Monday.

"He [Bush] is going to announce that there will be additional sanctions directed at key members of the regime, and those that provide financial support to them," National Security Adviser Stephen J Hadley told reporters in Washington on the eve of the crucial speech.

President Bush will make the current unrest in Burma the key focus of his speech at the 62nd Session of the UN General Assembly, Hadley said.

Without divulging details of the sanctions to be announced by Bush on Tuesday morning, Hadley said: "He's going to talk about a visa ban on key individuals associated with the negative activities of the regime, including their families."

Bush would also talk about the importance of continuing to support the humanitarian organizations that are trying to deal with the needs of the people of Burma on the ground, he said.

Observing that the US President would talk about the UN Declaration on Human Rights and America's commitment to it, Hadley said: "As part of this, he would talk about the importance of supporting the efforts of the various groups within Burma to advance the cause of freedom there."
Referring to the Buddhist monks leading the nationwide protest in Burma, Hadley said: "Our hope is to marry that internal pressure with some external pressure—coming from the United States, the United Nation, and really all countries committed to freedom—to try and force the regime into a change, and one that will lead to the release of all political prisoners and permit an evolution towards democracy and freedom in Burma."

Hadley said that a number of countries in the UN would join the US efforts.

 "We will continue to be following this (protest) very closely and be looking to see what we can do to continue to press the regime to do the right thing, to engage with its people, and to certainly desist from any additional arrests or any harassment of these protesters or any other individuals in Burma who are simply seeking to express their views," the spokesman said.

The State Department urged the regime to exercise restraint against protestors, avoid the use of force and release all political prisoners.

US urges India to Use its Influence with the Burmese Government

With fear of a military crackdown in Burma looming large, a senior Bush administration official on Monday urged India to pursue its diplomatic channels with the Burmese junta to prevent bloodshed and to promote political change.

"We want to see the Indian Government use its influence on Burma in the very short term," Kristin Silverberg, the Assistant Secretary of International Organization Affairs, said at a press conference.
This is the first time that the US has put pressure on India on this matter. India has developed close military and diplomatic ties with the military leadership in Burma over the past few years, whereas previously concentration had mainly focused on China.

Silverberg said, "There are a number of ways to persuade the Burmese Government to change its course—one was Security Council action; we strongly supported it and we are disappointed that China and Russia blocked. But there are many other ways to address this as well. One is through Asean."

That is why, she said, the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is going to make this a priority in her meeting later this week with Asean countries at the UN. She added that Burma would be the top priority for Rice at this meeting. The US Secretary of State would reiterate the US position on Burma—commencement of a political process, release of political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi, and protection of ethnic minorities.

Furthermore the US is calling on the countries in the Security Council who opposed the resolution on Burma earlier this year to use their leverage to persuade the Burmese Government to, first of all, show restraint in response to the peaceful protests and, over the longer term, look to undertake political changes.

Referring to media reports of an imminent military crackdown on the protesting monks, Silverberg said, "We strongly support the efforts of the Burmese people to seek change in their country. This has been a high priority for the United States. That is why we put Burma on the Security Council agenda for the first time. It is why we tabled the resolution last year; we strongly supported the role of Ibrahim Gambari and helped him to travel to the region and secure stronger support and action from some of the major regional players."

She said the US is closely watching the response of the Burmese Government to these protests. "We strongly support the rights of the Burmese people to undertake peaceful protests and we call on the Government to exercise all restraint," she said.

Canada said Junta Must Talk, Avoid Violence

Canada, one of the strongest supporters of the pro-democracy movement in Burma, on Monday urged the military regime to engage the people of the country in a genuine dialogue.

The Canadian Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier said in a statement: "We call upon the Burmese authorities to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the protestors and the people of Burma."

Observing that thousands of protesters have taken to the streets across Burma to protest against the Burmese regime, Bernier said Canada notes the actions of these peaceful protesters.
"Many of the pro-democracy activists arrested following anti-government protests in August remain detained. Canada condemns the arrests and continues to call for the immediate and unconditional release of those activists. We further call upon the Government of Burma to release all other political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi," he said.

Bernier said Canada will continue to support human rights and take principled positions on important issues to ensure that freedom, democracy and the rule of law.


Meanwhile, the Ottawa-based Canadian Friends of Burma announced Monday that its volunteers would start demonstrations in front of the Canadian Parliament beginning Tuesday in support of the peaceful Burmese protestors inside their country.

Faced with Burma Protests, China Reaffirms Non-intervention

China ruled out Tuesday getting involved in events in neighboring Burma, where the military junta has threatened to take action against a growing wave of pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks.

The Burma protests have placed China in a difficult situation because Beijing is a key political backer of the regime and has extensive economic links with the military government.

However, in what was apparently China's first official comment on the protests, Zhang Zhijun, a vice minister of the party's International Department, said Beijing has had minimal contact with either side and would abide by its long-term policy of noninterference in the domestic affairs of its allies.

"In our external exchanges, the party strictly abides by four principles ... there is one that is no interference in each other's internal affairs," Zhang told reporters at a news conference in Beijing.
China is believed to be strongly opposed to unrest in its southern neighbor, and some diplomats and academics have speculated that Beijing may be pressuring the regime to show restraint in the face of the biggest anti-government marches in nearly two decades.

Admitting that protests have spread across the country, Burma's rulers on Tuesday ordered Buddhist monks who have spearheaded the demonstrations to stay out of politics.

Much of the West applies diplomatic and political sanctions against Burma's junta for its refusal to restore democracy, but Chinese aid—along with oil and gas revenues it receives—effectively undercuts any leverage they might have had.

Beijing earlier this year blocked a UN Security Council resolution criticizing Burma's rights record, saying it was not the right forum.

Zhang said that regardless of the extent of the government's ties with overseas groups, it would not use such relations to interfere the domestic affairs of foreign nations.

Burmese Protests Grow—But So Do Fears of a Crackdown

The mass demonstrations by Burmese monks and the general public grew still further on Monday, joined by members of the opposition National League for Democracy, popular celebrities and 50 successful candidates in the 1990 general election.

Monks marching at Shwedagon Pagoda [Photo: The Irrawaddy]

Despite warnings that the regime was preparing a military crackdown and a visible presence of security forces, the demonstrations passed off peacefully.

The largest turnout was again in Rangoon, where an estimated 100,000 demonstrators packed city streets. Most headed for the city’s two leading religious sites, the Shwedagon Pagoda and the Sule Pagoda. Doctors, medics and nurses were reported to be stationing themselves at Shwedagon Pagoda, fearing bloodshed.

Crowds of demonstrators were reportedly planning to spend the night outside Rangoon City Hall, the scene of great carnage in the 1988 uprising.

About 50 NLD members, including party spokesman Han Thar Myint, set out from their Rangoon headquarters, brandishing the party flag.

Among the celebrities who joined the throngs were popular comedian Zarganar, famous poet Aung Way and several actors. Many offered alms to the monks at Shwedagon Pagoda.

Hundreds of thousands of monks and members of the public marched in Pegu, Mandalay, Sagaing and Magwe, as well as in towns in Mon, Arakan and Kachin states and Kawthaung in Tenasserim Division.

Monday’s turnout was the biggest since demonstrations began on August 19 in protest at a sharp rise in the prices of fuel and other commodities. The demonstrations rapidly took on a political purpose, and the monks are now openly calling for an end to the military regime.

The monks’ anger was fuelled by a brutal crackdown on a peaceful demonstration by monks in Pakokku, Magwe Division, on September 5. The monks demanded an official apology, and when that was not forthcoming they implemented a boycott of members of the military regime and their families.

Monks in Pakokku renewed their call for an apology on Sunday, backing it with a demand for the regime to hand over power to the people.

As the demonstrations across the country continued to grow on Monday, several high schools in Rangoon closed their doors. Government offices and many private businesses reportedly closed as fears grew of a possible confrontation between government forces and demonstrators.

Two activists in hiding from the authorities, Nilar Thein and Htay Kywe, called on Monday for members of the armed forces to join the demonstrators. In phone interviews with The Irrawaddy, they thanked all those who were taking part and said they welcomed the participation of some of the country’s leading celebrities, university staff and students.

On Sunday night, Burmese authorities arrested Myo Myin Yu, a writer and former political prisoner, according to Htun Myint Aung, a member of the 88 Generation Students group. He said another member of the group, Lay Lay Mon, had been arrested last Wednesday.

Burmese Ethnic Groups Join Protests

Ethnic parties in Burma have joined the protesting monks and Burmese general public in the nationwide demonstrations, according to some top ethnic leaders.

The chairman of the Zomi National Congress, Cin Shing Htan told The Irrawaddy on Monday that the protesters speak for all the people of Burma: “We (the ethnic minorities) also support the movement and we have decided to join the monks.”

Cin Shing Htan added, “We welcome [the protests] and thank the monks. We will follow the flag of the Buddhist monks. We have showed by marching with the demonstrators that we support the monks.”

Aye Thar Aung, Secretary of the Arakan League for Democracy, said that the country is facing a political crisis. He agreed with what the monks had asked for and had decided to join the protests.
“We are now ready to cooperate with the monks. We have shown our agreement and support by joining the protest and marching together with the monks today,” said Aye Thar Aung.

The Arakanese politician said that he had organized three physicians, including Aung Tin Oo who is an ethnic Karen politician, to follow the demonstrations in case protesters needed medical treatment. He added that he and his group will continue to cooperate with the monks in the coming days.

Aye Thar Aung urged all ethnic peoples, government staff and soldiers to join the protests, demand their rights and help change Burma into a democratic nation.

Other ethnic politicians also joined the demonstrations, such as Thar Ban from the Arakan League for Democracy, Htawng Kho Thang from the United National League for Democracy and Naing Htun Thein from the Mon National Party.

Mahn Sha, General Secretary of the Karen National Union, said, “The regime is not only the enemy of the Burmese people, but it is also the common enemy of all ethnic people. It is necessary for all ethnic groups to cooperate at this time. If the general public, the monks and the students work together, the regime can’t treat us as slaves.”

He said that KNU is ready to cooperate with the protestors politically as well as opposing the regime in armed conflict.

Mahn Sha also urged members of the armed forces to join the protests. He said that senior leaders also treat the soldiers as slaves. “So, lower ranking officers need to join hands with the public to fight against the military brass,” he added.

Col Yord Serk, leader of the Shan State Army (South), based along the Thai-Burmese border, also expressed support for the protesting monks.

The Alliance of All Burma Buddhist Monks released a statement on Monday calling for national reconciliation, the release of all political prisoners, and relief from the hardship in people’s daily lives.

Burmese Celebrities, Civic Groups Offer Aid to Protesting Monks

Burmese, writers, poets, film stars, musicians, journalists and social workers provided aid and assistance to demonstrating monks on Monday.

Comedian Zarganar, center, and actor Kyaw Thu, right, offering alms to monks at Shwedagon Pagoda on Monday [Photo: The Irrawaddy]

Celebrities including the comedian Zarganar, the actor Kyaw Thu, the writer Than Myint Aung, the poet Aung Way and others formed a group to offer alms and basic assistance to protesting monks regularly.

Than Myint Aung, a Burmese writer, told The Irrawaddy on Monday, “We are happy to offer alms and assistance to the peacefully protesting monk because they are the most honorable people from our society, and now they are even more respected because of their willingness to work for the people's liberation.”

The group offered alms to protesting monks at Shwedagon Pagoda on Monday morning, including soft drinks, drinking water and umbrellas.

Meanwhile, Burmese medical professionals including physicians, nurses and health care assistants, formed a committee to provide healthcare and medical assistance to monks who are marching barefooted for long distances each day in weather that varies from stifling heat to drenching rain.
Burmese medical companies, local businesses and private donors provided medicine, first aid equipment, money and other assistance for the monks.

Shwe Zee Gwet, a Burmese social worker based in Rangoon and the spouse of well-known Burmese actor Kyaw Thu, urged people to support the monks who are representing the Burmese people.
She said, "Burmese can not rely on anyone at the moment except our compassionate monks who are working for the people without any expectation for their own interests.

"Regardless of class or position, if people identify themselves as Buddhist or Burmese who love peace, they should support this peaceful protest.”

According to source in Rangoon, Burma’s Information Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan has asked Burmese journalists, artists and celebrities to sign a pledge not to participate in the demonstrations.