Wednesday, September 26, 2007

FACE OFF IN BURMA: MONKS vs SPDC
By Alternative Asean Network on Burma

• Between 18 and 24 September, tens of thousands of Buddhist monks led massive anti-junta demonstrations across most of Burma’s States and Divisions. In the largest show of peaceful protests against the military regime since 1988, thousands of Burmese civilians joined the rallies.

• On 22 September, hundreds of monks in Rangoon walked past a roadblock and greeted Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The rally served as a strong assertion of unity between the monks and the pro-democracy movement.

• The military junta faces a “lose-lose” situation. If they crack down harshly against the monks, they will inflame an already angry population into a sustained uprising. If the army remains passive, it will embolden the population to take a stronger stand for their rights. The situation may even precipitate an internal coup in the SPDC. A coup will either bring out hardliners who will engage in a harsh crackdown or elevate pragmatists, more likely to engage in genuine reforms.

• The mounting protest revived calls for the UN Security Council to increase pressure on the military regime. The current vulnerability of the SPDC will ensure that any positive international intervention is more likely to have an
impact.

• China, India, Bangladesh, as well as ASEAN countries, should be gravely concerned by the regional repercussion of instability inside Burma and work together to pressure the regime for genuine reforms.

• The new wave of nationwide protests was triggered by the junta’s failure to meet the demands of the All Burma Monks Alliance. The junta’s failure to meet the monks’ demands also resulted in the monks’ refusal to accept alms or provide spiritual services to members of the regime and their families.

• The monks’ act of excommunication of SPDC personnel and their families is considered the most severe form of public humiliation in Burma. It also increases internal pressure among SPDC personnel, because of the widening
economic gap between military leaders and those in the rank-and-file.

• The Buddhist clergy is the largest organized civilian institution in Burma. Numbering over 300,000, it matches the army in terms of size. Buddhist monks enjoy high status in Burmese society.

• For updates, photos, and videos of the protests, please visit ALTSEAN’s interactive map at: http://www.altsean.org/Photogalleries/ProtestsMap.php

The “saffron revolution”
On 24 September, Buddhist monks throughout Burma marched for the seventh consecutive day protesting against the military regime. In the largest public demonstration since 1988, about 20,000 monks led as many as 100,000 people through the streets of Rangoon.

 In a dramatic development, on 22 September a crowd of 2,000 monks and civilians walked past a roadblock and rallied outside the lakeside house where Daw Aung San Suu Kyi remains detained.

 The rally served as a strong assertion of unity between the
monks and the pro-democracy movement.

The monks’ involvement added momentum and brought greater legitimacy and support to the ongoing demonstrations triggered by the junta’s decision to increase fuel prices on 15 August.

Initially wary of taking part in the demonstrations, bystanders cheered and showed solidarity with the monks. However, as the protests grew in size and spread throughout most of Burma’s States and Divisions, tens of thousands of ordinary Burmese from all walks of life joined the
monks in the anti-junta protests.

The 2007 "saffron revolution" appears to have built on the experiences and lessons learned since 1988. Activists have been more proactive in ensuring that photos and footage of the protests are distributed domestically and internationally, and tactics seems to have taken into
account the likely reactions from the junta's intelligence apparatus.

Calls for UNSC action revived
The recent protests in Burma caused renewed calls for UN Security Council action. On 24 September, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) said that the situation in Burma and the violence displayed by the military regime required UNSC intervention.

The AIPMC statement followed a 23 September request by the Indonesian Myanmar Caucus Chairman, Djoko Susilo, for the Indonesian President to direct the UN General Assembly's attention to the situation in Burma.

Indonesia is currently a nonpermanent member of the UNSC and Indonesia’s support for UNSC intervention in Burma is considered critical.

The current turmoil prompted the UN Special Advisor on Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, to brief the UN Security Council on 20 September. Following the briefing, the US Ambassadors to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, indicated that the situation in Burma demanded UNSC attention.

The monks’ ultimatum

The new wave of nationwide protests was triggered by the junta’s failure to meet the demands of the All Burma Monks Alliance by the deadline of 17 September.

On 9 September, the All Burma Monks Alliance had threatened to excommunicate members of the military and their families if the regime failed to roll back the fuel price hikes.

The All Burma Monks Alliance comprises various Buddhist monastic associations from across the country, including the All Burma Young Monks Union, the Federation of All
Burma Monks Union, the Young Monks Union (Rangoon), the Monk Duta, and all monks unions in different States and Divisions.

In addition to the economic hardship exacerbated by the 15 August fuel price hike, monks were enraged by the regime’s violent crackdown on their peaceful protests.

On 5 September, SPDC Army soldiers fired warning shots to break up a demonstration of several hundred monks in Pakokku, Magwe Division. Some of the monks were severely beaten and three were arrested.

The following day, angered by the SPDC’s violent reaction, monks from Pakokku’s largest monastery held about 20 junta officials hostage to secure the release of their three detained colleagues.

Both the SPDC officials and the monks were released on the afternoon of 6 September.

The All Burma Monks Alliance demanded that the SPDC:
1. Apologize for the Pakkoku incident.
2. Immediately reduce all commodity prices, fuel prices, rice, and cooking oil prices.
3. Release all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all detainees arrested in the ongoing demonstrations over the fuel price hike.
4. Immediately enter into dialogue with democratic forces for national reconciliation to resolve the crises and difficulties suffered by the people.

The protests
On 18 September, which also marks the 19th anniversary of the junta’s military coup, monks began marching through the streets of Burma’s main cities to protest against the military regime.

The demonstrations quickly spread to other towns across Burma. Below is a summary of the anti-junta demonstrations held by the monks since 18 September:

Sept 18, 2007
About 100 monks demonstrated in Chauk, Magwe Division.
• More than 250 monks marched through the streets of Kyaukpadaung, Mandalay Division.

• About 100 monks demonstrated for two hours chanting metta [traditional religious chants to ward off evil] and marching through the streets of Allen, Magwe Division.

• More than 600 monks marched in Pakokku, Magwe Division.

• About 2,000 monks demonstrated in Pegu, Pegu Division.

• More than 300 monks marched through the streets of Rangoon.

• About 1,000 monks rallied in Akyab, Arakan State.18At least three monks were arrested.

Sept 19, 2007
• About 500 monks peacefully occupied Rangoon’s Sule pagoda. About 200 others demonstrated in other suburbs of the city.

• More than 1,000 monks from various monasteries marched to the Maha Myat Muni pagoda in Mandalay.

• About 500 monks held an anti-junta protest in Prome, Pegu Division.

• Around 200 monks marched through the streets of Kalay, Sagaing Division.

• More than 1,000 monks staged a sit-in outside a police station in Akyab, Arakan State.

• Over 50 monks demonstrated in the street of Ponnagyun, Arakan State.

Sept 20, 2007

• More than 1,300 monks joined by thousands of ordinary Burmese marched through the street of Rangoon. Several monks taking part in the rally reportedly waved placards
calling for UN action on Burma.

The monks concluded the protests by demonstrating at the Shwedagon pagoda. About 200 other monks from the Nikal Ngar Yat monastery in Rangoon also held an anti-junta protest, chanting metta and refusing to accept any donations.

• About 400 monks marched for an hour to protest against the junta in Monywa, Sagaing Division.

• About 20 people marched in support of the monks’ protests by peacefully marching for
about an hour in the streets of Rathidaung, Arakan State.

Sept 21, 2007

• Over 3,000 people, including about 1,500 monks, marched along the streets of Rangoon. More than 200 monks held a prayer vigil at the Maelamu Pagoda in North
Rangoon.

• Over 1,000 Buddhist monks held a one-hour rally in Shwebo, Sagaing Division.

• About 200 monks led a two-hour peaceful demonstration through the streets of Daik-U, Pegu Division.

Sept 22, 2007

• More than 1,500 monks marched through the streets of Rangoon and held a vigil prayer at the Shwedagon pagoda. A crowd of 2,000 monks and civilians passed through a
roadblock and walked to the lakeside house where Daw Aung San Suu Kyi remains detained. Daw Suu greeted the demonstrators from her gate in her first public appearance in more than four years.

• 10,000 people, including 4,000 monks, marched through the street of Mandalay.

• About 200 monks demonstrated in Mrauk U, Arakan State.

• About 60 monks peacefully marched for about an hour through the streets of Kyauktaw,Arakan State.

• About 200 monks staged a peaceful demonstration in Sagaing Township, Sagaing Division.

Sep 23, 2007

• About 20,000 people led by 10,000 monks demonstrated against the SPDC in Rangoon. The demonstrators marched from the Shwedagon Pagoda to the nearby Sule Pagoda.
Some monks shouted support for detained democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, while people in the crowd formed a human chain to protect the clerics.

At least 100 nuns joined the demonstration. Armed riot police prevented a crowd of about 400 monks and demonstrators from again approaching Daw Suu’s home.

• About 300 monks marched through the streets of Myitkyina, Kachin State.

• Over 400 monks demonstrated against the military junta in Bhamo, Kachin State.

• About 300 monks held a prayer vigil for one hour in Magwe, Magwe Division.

Sept 24, 2007

• About 20,000 monks led as many as 100,000 people in a 15-kilometer rally in Rangoon.

• As many as 600 monks rallied in Mandalay.

• Over 300 monks marched in Bhamo, Kachin State.

• About 200 young monks rallied for more than two hours in Myitkyina, Kachin State.

• More than 5,000 people including 100 university students joined in a demonstration led by 1,500 monks from various monasteries in Moulmein, Mon state.

• Thousands of people including university students joined a peaceful anti-junta demonstration led by about 600 monks in Kalay, Sagaing Division.

Even before the All Burma Monks Alliance’s ultimatum, monks in Burma had been at the forefront of the massive protests against the junta’s decision to increase fuel price on 15 August.

• 28 August: About 200 monks protested the fuel price hikes in Akyab, Arakan State. A monk from Payagyi monastery was arrested during the protest and released the following day.

Two other monks were detained in connection with the protest. Their whereabouts remain unknown.

• 5 September: About 500 Buddhist monks hold an anti-junta protest march in the town of Pakokku, Magwe Division. Some of the monks were severely beaten and three were arrested.

• 17 September: About 30 monks staged a protest in Chauk, Magwe Division, marching through the town and chanting metta for several hours.

• 17 September: More than 700 monks held a demonstration against the military junta in the town of Kyaukpadaung, Mandalay Division.

SPDC excommunicated
The SPDC’s failure to meet the monks’ demands also resulted in the excommunication of military men and their families. The monks now refuse to accept alms or provide spiritual services to members of the regime and their families.

The monks’ excommunication of the SPDC by the monks is a very extreme measure.

Traditionally, monks are not allowed to deny help to anyone, including murderers or wrongdoers, but only to those who attack the Buddhist institution.

The boycott of the alms – called patam nikkujjana kamma, the act of overturning the bowl - is taken extremely seriously in Burma, where giving alms to monks is a religious practice
associated with paying respect to ancestors, atoning for bad deeds, and storing up merit for rebirth.

A monks’ boycott destroys any sense of legitimacy enjoyed by the SPDC leaders, who portray themselves as defenders of Buddhism by building pagodas and public “good works”.

Such a religious and social isolation of SPDC personnel and their families is considered the most severe form of public humiliation in Burma, which is largely a Buddhist country.

It increases internal pressure amongst SPDC personnel and their supporters, already resentful over the widening economic gap between military leaders and those in the rank-and-file.

Importance of monks in Burma’s society

 The Buddhist clergy is the largest organized civilian
institution in Burma. Numbering over 300,000, it
matches the army in terms of size.58 Almost all
Buddhist male adults have served as monks or novices
at least once in their lives.

Buddhist monks enjoy high status in Burmese society. In addition to being responsible for the spiritual wellbeing of the people, monks are also responsible for their education and welfare; hence they have a moral duty to protect them.

In a similar way, the monks’ material survival and work depend on the wellbeing of people, as they rely on the general population for alms and donations.

“We can't sit back and watch the people who sponsor us sink into poverty. Their poverty is our poverty as well,” a monk was quoted as saying during the recent wave of protests.

Monks have been at the forefront of past protests against British colonialism and the military dictatorship.

Background: The 1990 boycott of alms

The monks are repeating the confrontation with the military regime in 1990. On 8 August 1990, in commemoration of the second anniversary of the pro-democracy uprising, over 7,000 monks and novices walked through the streets of Mandalay.

Soldiers confronted the monks and opened fire, killing two monks and two students and wounding seventeen others.
Following the massacre, the Monks Union of Mandalay announced a boycott of the alms against the military and their families.

The boycott, which began in Mandalay, spread quickly across Burma. Feeling threatened by the monks’ peaceful defiance, the regime heavily cracked down on them. Monasteries were surrounded by armed troops trapping monks inside.

Electricity, water, and communication lines were cut off and monks were prevented from going on their daily alms round. After maintaining the blockade for one week, armed troops raided more than 35 monasteries throughout the country.

More than 3,000 monks and novices were arrested.