Protests Grow—But So Do Fears of a Crackdown

The mass demonstrations by Burmese monks and the general public grew still further on Monday, joined by members of the opposition National League for Democracy, popular celebrities and 50 successful candidates in the 1990 general election.

Monks marching at Shwedagon Pagoda [Photo: The Irrawaddy]

Despite warnings that the regime was preparing a military crackdown and a visible presence of security forces, the demonstrations passed off peacefully.

The largest turnout was again in Rangoon, where an estimated 100,000 demonstrators packed city streets. Most headed for the city’s two leading religious sites, the Shwedagon Pagoda and the Sule Pagoda. Doctors, medics and nurses were reported to be stationing themselves at Shwedagon Pagoda, fearing bloodshed.

Crowds of demonstrators were reportedly planning to spend the night outside Rangoon City Hall, the scene of great carnage in the 1988 uprising.

About 50 NLD members, including party spokesman Han Thar Myint, set out from their Rangoon headquarters, brandishing the party flag.

Among the celebrities who joined the throngs were popular comedian Zarganar, famous poet Aung Way and several actors. Many offered alms to the monks at Shwedagon Pagoda.

Hundreds of thousands of monks and members of the public marched in Pegu, Mandalay, Sagaing and Magwe, as well as in towns in Mon, Arakan and Kachin states and Kawthaung in Tenasserim Division.

Monday’s turnout was the biggest since demonstrations began on August 19 in protest at a sharp rise in the prices of fuel and other commodities. The demonstrations rapidly took on a political purpose, and the monks are now openly calling for an end to the military regime.

The monks’ anger was fuelled by a brutal crackdown on a peaceful demonstration by monks in Pakokku, Magwe Division, on September 5. The monks demanded an official apology, and when that was not forthcoming they implemented a boycott of members of the military regime and their families.

Monks in Pakokku renewed their call for an apology on Sunday, backing it with a demand for the regime to hand over power to the people.

As the demonstrations across the country continued to grow on Monday, several high schools in Rangoon closed their doors. Government offices and many private businesses reportedly closed as fears grew of a possible confrontation between government forces and demonstrators.

Two activists in hiding from the authorities, Nilar Thein and Htay Kywe, called on Monday for members of the armed forces to join the demonstrators. In phone interviews with The Irrawaddy, they thanked all those who were taking part and said they welcomed the participation of some of the country’s leading celebrities, university staff and students.

On Sunday night, Burmese authorities arrested Myo Myin Yu, a writer and former political prisoner, according to Htun Myint Aung, a member of the 88 Generation Students group. He said another member of the group, Lay Lay Mon, had been arrested last Wednesday.