Monks Free Myanmar Officials

Buddhist monks in Pakokku, Myanmar freed 13 government officials they had seized in a stand-off.   The ruling military regime had used force to disperse several hundred monks protesting against a rise in fuel prices.

The monks also set fire to four officials’ cars. A senior abbot interfered and the officials were freed. At least three monks were arrested and several injured. 

The protests prompted the state newscast to blame the monks for causing violence. That was the state media’s mention of the weeks of demonstrations. The monks marched and chanted prayers until the military fired warning shots. The seizure was in response to their treatment.

In the last two weeks, Myanmar has had several demonstrations because of fuel price rising 500%.

The military regime has used heavy force to quiet the demonstrations and prevent them from growing.  The government has arrested more than 100 people.

If Buddhist monks join the protesting, it will become even more difficult for the military to respond. Monks have traditionally led political and social change there. 

Monks helped to rally support for the 1988 pro-democracy uprising.  The junta quelled the protests with deadly force, killing hundreds and perhaps thousands of people.

For more information, please see:

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/II08Ae04.html

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fe51ba04-5cca-11dc-9cc9-0000779fd2ac.html

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/politics/2007/09/07/burma_fuelprotest/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6981218.stm