100,000 monks/citizens protest military junta in Myanmar

[xxThe_Lebowskixx]

the protests were triggered when the government stopped subsidizing gasoline causing the prices to skyrocket.

[A_C_Slater]

[ QUOTE ]
the protests were triggered when the government stopped subsidizing gasoline causing the prices to skyrocket.

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Why would monks give a [censored] about the price of gasoline?

[xxThe_Lebowskixx]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
the protests were triggered when the government stopped subsidizing gasoline causing the prices to skyrocket.

[/ QUOTE ]


Why would monks give a [censored] about the price of gasoline?

[/ QUOTE ]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhis...anmar#Politics
http://www.burmanet.org/news/2007/09/22/...asey/#more-8969

The monks are the moral majority in Myanmar and are considered sacred. You aren't even supposed to touch a monk. I guess the idea of the monks leading protests is to
1. protect civilians, as they are walking behind the monks.
2. make it hard for the government to crack down on the protest as it would outrage more people who view the monks as beyond reproach.

As of last week, the monks in Myanmar have refused to accept alms from members of the military or their family.

"The Burmese word for boycott is thabeik hmauk which literally means to turn the monk's alms bowl upside down - declining to accept alms in protest."

edit: you need to understand the purpose and meaning behind alms http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alms

"The monk will then pray for the giver's family or requested others. It is not charity as presumed by Western interpreters. It is closer to a symbolic connection to the spiritual and to show humbleness and respect in the presence of normal society."

[xxThe_Lebowskixx]

video of japanese photojournalist being shot (not graphic)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=yXk5Ulppktk
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gF3h5x_2y...ed&search=

[xxThe_Lebowskixx]

very good bbc video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYYex7iaILo

[xxThe_Lebowskixx]

The internet is currently down and news has come to a standstill. The monks have either been arrested or are being held in their monastery at gun point. Protest numbers have reportedly decreased and are now only civilians.

[Los Feliz Slim]

This is good information, thanks for providing it. Not much I can do, but the more this is publicized the better.

[thatpfunk]

this is fascinating stuff. god forbid this actually gets mentioned on the evening news.

[xxThe_Lebowskixx]

good article of Singapore's role in Myanmar
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/...486569946.html

it doesn't look very good for the people. The junta is not allowing the UN visitors to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi, the meeting is not even taking place in Rangoon, it is taking place in the 'new capital city' of Myanmar which the generals have built as their own little town to house the elite. I would be surprised if anything at all comes for it.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/glo...cle2556453.ece

[xxThe_Lebowskixx]

military blocks UN food relief
http://www.javno.com/en/world/clanak.php?id=85308