Burma Marches On
Despite the brutal crackdown by police and the ensuing bloodshed in Burma, thousands of Buddhist monks and other protesters continue to march, demanding the end of military rule. The international community watches uneasily, fearing a repetition of the violence of 1988 when troops opened fire on unarmed protesters, killing thousands?. From the streets of Rangoon, and from Bangkok, Washington and the United Nations, IPS brings you unique perspective on the Burmese quest for freedom and democracy.
Protesting Monks Set Upon by Riot Police
Moe Yu May and Marwaan Macan-Markar
RANGOON, Sep 26 (IPS) – In a desperate bid to cling on to power, Burma’s military junta stomped on the country?s rich Buddhist traditions on, of all days, a religious holiday, when people usually spend their time in prayer at the hundreds of pagodas that dot this country.
ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39413
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Call for Urgent International Talks on Burma at UN
Jim Lobe
WASHINGTON, Sep 25 (IPS) – Amid growing anti-government demonstrations in Burma, the International Crisis Group called Tuesday for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to convene urgent talks with the foreign ministers of China, India, and Singapore, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to promote a peaceful settlement to the political crisis there.
ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39405
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Monks Lead Protests, Challenge Junta
Moe Yu May and Marwaan Macan-Markar
RANGOON, Sep 25 (IPS) – Like they did for over a week, the monks who gathered at Burma?s most sacred site — the Shwedagon pagoda — performed a ritual on Tuesday under a blistering mid-day sun. They sat on the hallowed grounds of the majestic temple in Rangoon to pray for the people?s ‘victory’.
ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39400
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Buddhist Clergy on Collision Course With Junta
Marwaan Macan-Markar
BANGKOK, Sep 21 (IPS) – Burma?s Buddhist monks are threatening to turn an on-going protest against steep hikes in fuel prices into a religious and moral showdown with the country?s oppressive military regime.
ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39354
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Buddhist Monks Take on Military Regime
Marwaan Macan-Markar
BANGKOK, Sep 7 (IPS) – Political tension in military-ruled Burma has taken an ominous turn with soldiers clashing, this week, with sections of the country?s respected Buddhist clergy. The confrontation was the latest in an unfolding drama that has featured rare public protests at massive hikes in fuel prices in August.
ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39173
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Junta Exposed by Information Technology
Marwaan Macan-Markar
BANGKOK, Aug 30 (IPS) – As public protests in Burma enter a second week, Burmese journalists living in exile and other expatriates are finding new appreciation for the marvels of modern communication and information technology.
ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39082
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A People Running on Empty
Marwaan Macan-Markar
BANGKOK, Aug 24 (IPS) – For over a week, Burmese civilians in and around Rangoon have been forced to make a tough choice — stay at home and starve or go to work and labour on near-empty stomachs.
ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39007
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