Buddhist monks protest on the streets of Myanmar by Corina Ciubotaru

In Myanmar things are looking bad, but peaceful. Since August 19, Buddhist monks filled the streets of former capital Yangon, gathering a crowd of up to 100,000 people to protest against the government. It began as a march against the rising of oil prices that would increase prices but eventually it turned into a protest against the junta, Myanmar's military regime. It is believed the generals ruling the country are keeping it from developing and they are also responsible for the house arrest of Nobel Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy party. She was chosen to lead the country by her people in 1990, but the military regime did not allow her to take power. Now 62, she has been under continuous house arrest since May 2003 and she was only permitted to greet the protesters from the gate, during her first appearance in the last four years. The people weren't allowed to go near her during the Sunday march to her house but the action is still peaceful, as monks are the highest authority in Myanmar and the military did not dare open fire. A group of monks even called for peaceful protests until the junta regime fell, as civilians walking around the protesting monks and nuns locked hands around them for protection. The situation came under international scrutiny; the U.S. and the U.N. urged the military regime to start discussions about political reform and unity, while the country's neighbors watch the situation closely and hope for the best.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070923/ap_on_re_as/myanmar;_ylt=ArJ8eSVtdYkERZInH3.dIsOs0NUE

by Corina Ciubotaru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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