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Monks Revolution in Burma
By: pfalzone
Posted: Nov 7 07
Witnessed: 5410 times
Regions: Myanmar
Issues: Police brutality
Tags: burma, Protest, State Repression
Thousands turn out to support Rangoon protests
Sep 19, 2007 (DVB)—Thousands of people took to the streets in Rangoon today to support monks protesting against the Burmese government.
More than 1000 monks braved rain in the former capital today to stage another protest against government harassment around the famous Sule Pagoda, where several monks gave political speeches, slamming the military's use of violence against peaceful protests.
Huge crowds of civilians gathered in the streets to watch the monks protest. Some reports from Rangoon claimed that almost 10,000 people had turned out to watch the demonstrations.
Today's protest was started by about 500 monks who marched past Shwedagon pagoda before being joined by hundreds more monks at Tamwe roundabout. They then marched down Bogyoke road to Sule junction while chanting metta, eyewitnesses said.
"The authorities shut down the gates to Sule Pagoda and initially refused to let the monks in. But after the monks demanded access, the officials finally gave in," one eyewitness told DVB.
"They closed the gates after the monks came in and they argued again and the monks had the gates reopened. Then the bystanders came into the pagoda," the eyewitness said.
The monks reportedly stayed at the pagoda for about 30 minutes before returning to their monasteries. During their march through town the monks were followed by more than 20 police vehicles and large groups of officials. There were no reports of government interference in the demonstration.
Groups of monks also protested in a number of other cities around Burma today with more than 1000 marching in Mandalay, 500 in Prome and 150 in Kalay township, Sagaing division.
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