버마: 민주주의 투쟁

BURMA:
"Monks Are Calling For UPRISING AGAINST THE JUNTA"..

..today's German magazine Der Spiegel headlined. Channel NewsAsia: "That's the beginning of the end!"..

Today about 20,000 people led by Buddhist monks demonstrated in Rongoon (aka Yangon) against Burma's military junta, in what has quickly become the largest anti-government demonstrations since the failed democratic uprising in 1988.
The latest protest movement began Aug. 19 after the government raised fuel prices, but has its basis in long pent-up dissatisfaction with the repressive military regime.

State terror against protesting monks, Pakokku (Sept. 2007)

Using arrests and intimidation, the government had managed to keep demonstrations limited in size and impact - but they gained new life when the monks joined. But since the beginning of last week the demonstrations were continuously increasing.

Last Thursday Burmese Buddhist monks called on students and civilians to join hands with them in public protests against the military regime which has ruled the country for almost 20 years.
The Federation of All Burma Young Monks Unions issued a statement saying, “It is time for the Burmese people to work with monks and courageously demonstrate their genuine aspirations.”

This was the first official call by protesting monks for the public to take part in their demonstration marches which have spread across the country during the past week. Previously, the monks asked the public not to join their protests..