The people in Burma rallied around the monks who have staged protests across the country this week, encouraging them and drawing strength from their bravery in coming out of the monasteries by the thousands.
As the monks marched, chanting suttas promoting loving kindness and protection from evil, average citizens walk with them on nearby sidewalks or trail behind the red-robed columns.
The marching monks are greeted with applause and cheers. The monks have asked that the public not join their protests, apparently in an effort to avoid a violent confrontation with the authorities.
But their appeal isn't working. In small towns, hundreds join the monks. In Rangoon and other large cities, thousands of people stream along or gather around when the monks stop.
A housewife in Rangoon, watching the monks march on Tuesday, said, “I’m very happy. It encourages me when I see monks stand for us.” She requested anonymity for fear of harassment.
A student in Rangoon cheered the monks and said, “I think they [monks] do the right thing. I strongly support them.”
He said that if the situation grows violent, he would help the monks in their demonstrations.
“I think people can’t be patient if they hurt the monks," he said.
The student said he was shocked and sad following an earlier incident in which police and military-backed thugs struck monks with rifle butts and fired weapons in the air to break up a demonstration in Pakokku Township in central Burma.
“It is not appropriate as Burma is ruled by Buddhism believers,” he said, adding that the government should peacefully compromise with the monks. “They [the junta] should apologize as the monks asked and ask the monks what they want.”
The students said many people would like to join the monks in demonstrations, but are afraid of a violent crackdown by the military junta that gunned down an estimated 3,000 people in a pro-democracy mass uprising in 1988.
But most people are afraid to take part in public demonstrations, he said. “We are proud of the protests, and we should cheer them [monks],” he said.
A Hlegu Township resident said, “The role of the monks is very significant. I think it is necessary to do.”
As the monks marched, chanting suttas promoting loving kindness and protection from evil, average citizens walk with them on nearby sidewalks or trail behind the red-robed columns.
The marching monks are greeted with applause and cheers. The monks have asked that the public not join their protests, apparently in an effort to avoid a violent confrontation with the authorities.
But their appeal isn't working. In small towns, hundreds join the monks. In Rangoon and other large cities, thousands of people stream along or gather around when the monks stop.
A housewife in Rangoon, watching the monks march on Tuesday, said, “I’m very happy. It encourages me when I see monks stand for us.” She requested anonymity for fear of harassment.
A student in Rangoon cheered the monks and said, “I think they [monks] do the right thing. I strongly support them.”
He said that if the situation grows violent, he would help the monks in their demonstrations.
“I think people can’t be patient if they hurt the monks," he said.
The student said he was shocked and sad following an earlier incident in which police and military-backed thugs struck monks with rifle butts and fired weapons in the air to break up a demonstration in Pakokku Township in central Burma.
“It is not appropriate as Burma is ruled by Buddhism believers,” he said, adding that the government should peacefully compromise with the monks. “They [the junta] should apologize as the monks asked and ask the monks what they want.”
The students said many people would like to join the monks in demonstrations, but are afraid of a violent crackdown by the military junta that gunned down an estimated 3,000 people in a pro-democracy mass uprising in 1988.
But most people are afraid to take part in public demonstrations, he said. “We are proud of the protests, and we should cheer them [monks],” he said.
A Hlegu Township resident said, “The role of the monks is very significant. I think it is necessary to do.”
