Recent atrocities in Burma are crippling to human rights movement. The tally of deaths in Burma has been staggering not to mention the murder, beating and arrest of 70 monks. In an age where universal values are significantly apparent, it is a shock that such atrocities occur without punishment or restraints from the perpetrators. Is this not the type of events the International Criminal Court is supposed to prevent? The International Criminal Court could potentially be powerless and prove inutile as an international institution in the prevention of war crimes, or crimes against humanity in Burma.
This is not the first time Burma has violated human rights. In 1939, Burma ran a bloody campaign against the Karen People. The backlash of this campaign is evident in the approximately 160,000 Karen located in nine refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border. The Mae La Refugee camp is the most notorious of the nine, and is residence of refugees who have lived here for 23 years. Even with the proximity to both Thailand and Burma, refugees are not permitted to return home or integrate locally. Aside from a few activists, the world is oblivious to the existence of these people and the Court does not have anyone to prosecute for infringements on human rights. The Court can only prosecute perpetrators who committed genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity after the ratification of the Rome Statute of 2002.
Burma is a test not only to the international community but also to the Court. Even in its infancy, the Court must demonstrate the extent to which it will go to maintain justice and protect humanity. The Court must take on the responsibilities of deterring repressive regimes from oppressing citizens. Sanctions in Burma’s case do not suffice. The Court’s response to the Junta of Burma could expose weaknesses of the Court, initiate amendments in its structure or devalue the importance of international institutions.
Under the jurisdiction of the Court, it may only prosecute perpetrators referred by the United Nations Security Council. The Junta has been compare to Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe and perpetrator of crimes against the people of Zimbabwe. The Junta can be prosecuted for war crimes and crimes against humanity. On September 27, 2007, the United Nations Security Council met in response to pressure from the West for coordinated sanctions. But Russia and China argued that the unrest was an internal matter that should not be on the council’s agenda at all. Of course such a perception is warranted. It is unlikely the junta respects the jurisdiction of the Court especially since the Court lacks China, Russia and U.S. support.
The International Criminal Court must set itself aside from the political realm. It is now, in Burma’s case, that the Court must demonstrate it will support democracy, peace and human rights. The Court must demonstrate it will defend those with the audacity to question and march against an oppressive regimes so that the death of monks in Burma is not in vain. Doing so will empower the oppressed, encourage activists and deter oppressors from causing future crimes.
Sources:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article2554067.ece
Burma’s saffron revolution (cover story) Economist, 10/29/2007, Vol. 384 Issue 8548, special section p29-31, 3p.
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
Sunday, 18 November 2007
The Saffron Revolution Diary
The Saffron Revolution Diary
Recently the military junta of Burma told the UN envoy that the September 2007 monk-led political unrest as only confined to Rangoon, Mandalay and Akyab, down playing the fact that it was a wide-based mass display of discontent. The truth is that the Saffron Revolution was joined by students and poeple of all walks of life and it was not confined to a few cities. The following is the list of cities from various States and Divisions across the country that joined the uprisings and the number of monks and lay people involved.
SEPTEMBER
1 Sept.
2 Sept.
Buthitaung (Arakan State): 1 (solo demo)
3 Sept.
Lapwatta: 1000
Kyaukse: 15 Writers and Poets
Pakokku: 10 NLD members
Myitkyina (Kachin State): Students waged Poster war.
4 Sept.
Hakha (Chin State): 25 NLD members
Taunggyi (Shan State): 17 NLD members
Taunggoke: 3000
5 Sept.
Pakokku: 600 monks (The Junta responded with violence and brutal beatings of the monks)
Bogalay: 5 NLD members / 1000 others
6 Sept.
The monks burnt 3 police cars and took hold of 13 authorities and destroy a house and a shop belonging to supporters of
the military junta.
Myao Thit: 5 NLD members
Hlaing Thaya Zone 1 (Rangoon): Taw-win Myanmar Textile Factory, 200 workers
7 Sept.
Myit-Che: 30 AIDS victims
Gu: 4 NLD members
Hlaing Thaya Zone 1 (Rangoon): Taw-win Myanmar Textile Factory, 200 workers
Hlaing Thaya Zone 3 (Rangoon): Baw-ga Textile Factory, 200 workers
8 Sept.
Dawpong: 12 NLD members
Myitkyina (Kachin State): Students waged poster war
9 Sept.
All Burma Sanga Allaince gave momentum to the junta that the monks will boycott the military junta if there is no formal apology for the Pakkoku incident, where some monks were brutally beaten on 5 September.
Akyab (Arakan State): 200 students celebrated U Otama Day and lay wreath at U Otama Park.
Nyaung Tone: 2 monks
10 Sept.
11 Sept.Taunggoke: A solo demo
12 Sept.
13 Sept.
14 Sept.
15 Sept.
16 Sept.
Chauk: 60 monks
Myingyan: 300 monks boycott junta's alms
17 Sept.
Kyaukpantaung: 700 monks
Kyopinkauk: 250 monks
18 Sept.
Rangoon: 1000 monks and 20,000 lay peoples
Bago: 2000 monks
Kyobinkauk: 250 monks
Myingyan: some monks (number unknown)
Kyaukpantaung: 250 people
Chauk: 100 monks
Aunglan: 100 monks
Pakkoku: 600 monks
Akyab (Arakan State): 500 monks, 10,000 people. The army shot at the crowds and beated them. Dispersed with tear gas.
Kyaukphyu: 100 monks, 200 lay people
Sri Lanka: Burmese monks scholars
19 Sept.
Rangoon: 1500 monks, 10,000 lay people
Rangoon: 600 Dagon University students
Rangoon: Students from Ywathagyi Institute of Economics walked out from the examination and boycott.
Mandalay: 1000 monks, 5000 lay people
Amarapura: 150 monks
Mogoke: 200 monks
Bago: 2000 monks from Kya Khat Waing and 100,000 lay people
Prome: 600 monks
Kyopinkauk: 250 monks
Nyaungdon: 10 monks
Kalaymyo: 200 monks
Akyab: 2000 monks and 10,000 lay people took over the State Administrative Office
Pongna Kyun: 400 monks
India-Bodagaya: Burmese-scholar monks
20 Sept.
Rangoon: 2000 monks, 30000 lay people at Shwedagon Pagoda
Kwanchangone: 60 monks
Amarapura: 100 monks
Bago: 2000 monks, 5000 lay people
Shwe Taung: 41 monks
Kyopinkauk: 500 monks, 5000 lay people
Mongywa: 800 monks, 2000 lay people
Yezagyo: 200 monks
Yathetaung: 20 people
21 Sept.
Rangoon: 4000 monks and 800 Kabaaye Sasana University students, 10,000 lay people
Syriam: 100 monks
Mogoke: 500 monks and 10,000 lay people
Amarapura: 1000 monks
Pakokku: 1000 monks, 50000 lay people
Chauk: 400 monks
Minbu: 40 monks
Sagaing: 1000 monks
Mongywa: 2000 monks, 4000 lay people
Shwebo: 100 monks, 1000 lay people
Bago: 500 monks
Daik-Oo: 200 monks, 500 lay people
Prome: 500 monks
Letpandan: 100 monks
Kengtung (Shan State): 600 monks
Bahmo (Kachin State): 100 monks, University students waged poster war
Myitkyina (Kachin State): University students waged poster war
22 Sept.
Rangoon: 5000 monks, 5000 lay people
Kwanchankone: 500 monks, 5000 people
Kaw-hmu: 100 monks, 1000 laypeople
Mandalay: 10,000 monks, 10,000 lay people
Magwe: 300 monks
Minbu: 40 monks
Yenanchaung: 200 monks, 3000 lay people
Taungdwingyi: 100 monks, 10,000 lay people
Shwebo: 200 monks, 2000 lay people
Monywa: 300 monks
Kalemyo: 500 monks
Sagaing: 200 monks
Henzada: 800 monks
Taungoo: 250 monks
Minpya: 400 monks
Mrauk Oo: 200 monks
Kyauktaw: 60 monks
India: Nalanda University, Burmese-scholar monks
23 Sept.
Rangoon: 10,000 monks and nuns, 10,000 lay people
Mandalay: 10,000 monks
Kyaukpandaung: 500 monks
Sagaing: 1000 monks
Mongywa: 1000 monks, 5000 lay people
Kalemyo: 600 monks and unknown number of Kalay University Students (CNN)
Shwebo: 250 monks, 2000 lay people
Myitkyina: 300 monks, 1000 lay people
Bahmo: 300 monks
Minbu: 40 monks
Magwe: 300 monks
Taungdwingyi: 120 monks, 3000 lay people
Henzada: 800 monks, 2000 lay people
Minbu: 4000 monks
Yathetaung: 50 monks, 600 lay people
24 Sept.
Rangoon: 10,000 monks, 300,000 lay people
Hmawbi: 1000 monks
Kwanchangone: 400 monks, 1000 lay people
Mandalay: 10,000 monks
Pakkoku: 2500 monks, 200 nuns, 100,000 lay people
Akyab (Arakan State) : 20,000 monks, 200,000 lay people
Minpya: 200 monks, 5000 lay people
Yathetaung: 70 monks, 2000 lay people
Kyaukphyu (Arakan State): 100 monks
Mrauk Oo (Arakan State): 300 monks, 5000 lay people
Kyauk Taung: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Pongnakyun: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Maungdaw (Arakan State): undisclosed numbers of monks demonstrated
Bago: 3000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Prome: 3000 monks, 10,000 lay people
Natalin: 50 monks
Tharawaddy: 10 monks
Letpandan: 400 monks
Sagaing: undisclosed numbers of monks demonstrated
Daik Oo: 400 monks, 2000 lay people
Taungoo: 600 monks, 5000 lay people
Kyaukme (Shan State): 40 monks
Myitkyina (Kachin State): 300 monks, 10,000 lay people
Bahmo (Kachin State): 300 monks
Mogoke: 2000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Mawlamyaing (Mon State): 1500 monks, 5000 lay people
New Mon State Party ( a cease fire group) issued a statement supporting the Saffron Revolution
Kawkariek: undisclosed numbers of monks demonstrated
Phyapone: 200 monks, 2000 lay people
Bassein: 400 monks, 3000 lay people
Henzada: 800 monks, 5000 lay people
Tavoy: 200 monks
Kawthaung: 30 monks, 500 lay people
Yenanchaung: 700 monks, 30000 lay people
Sinphyukyun: 150 monks, 1000 lay people
Yesagyo: 250 monks
Natmauk: 275 monks
Taungdwingyi: 150 monks, 5000 lay people
Aunglan: 200 monks, 15,000 lay people
25 Sept.
Rangoon: 50,000 monks, 300,000 lay people
Mandalay: 20,000 monks, 20,000 lay people
Amarapura: 2000 monks
Taungtha: 37 monks
Myingyan: 500 monks, 40,000 lay people
Patheingyi: 40 monks
Mogoke: 3000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Nyaung Oo: 100 monks, 100 lay people
Kyaukpantaung: 1500 monks, 10,000 lay people
Sagaing: 150 monks
Kalemyo: 600 monks, 10,000 lay people
Mongywa: 400 monks, 10,000 lay people
Shwebo: 400 monks, 10,000 lay people
Magwe: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Chauk: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Taungoo: 100 monks
Prome: 87 monks
Myitkyina: 180 monks, 1000 lay people
Bahmo: 200 monks
Mohynin (Kachin State): 100 monks, 5000 lay people
Akyab (Arakan State): 100,000 demonstrators
Taunggoke: 200 monks, 30,000 lay people
Kyaukphyu: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Minpya: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Mrauk Oo: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Yathetaung: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Mawlamyaing: 2000 monks, 1500 lay people
Ye: 150 monks, 1500 lay people
Kya-inn Seik-gyi: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Tavoy: 500 monks, 1000 lay people
Kawthaung: 30 monks, 150 lay people
26 Sept. (Taw-tha-lin Full moon day)
Rangoon: 30,000 monks, 300,000 lay people (the Junta responded with violence and brutal killings. Bloodshed.)
Mandalay: 30,000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Myingyan: 3000 monks, 100,000 lay people (20 police joined the demo)
Kyaukpantaung: 1500 monks, 100,000 lay people
Pakokku: 2000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Mongywa: 700 monks, 40,000 lay people
Katha: 50 monks, 1500 lay people
Akyab (Arakan State): 4000 monks, 50,000 lay people
Mawlamyaing (Mon State): 2500 monks, 2000 lay people
Kawkareik: undisclosed number of demonstrators
27 Sept.
Rangoon: 150,000 lay people (the Junta responded with violence and brutal killings. Bloodshed.)
Mandalay: 10,000 monks, 10,000 lay people
Amarapura: 1000 monks
Myingyan: 3000 monks, 10,000 lay people
Chauk: 3000 demonstrators
Yenanchaung: 1500 monks, 4000 lay people
Tavoy: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Akyab (Arakan State): Crowd dispersed by shootings. Bloodshed (?)
Taunggoke: 10,000 demonstrators
28 Sept.
Rangoon: 50,000 demonstrators (the Junta responded with violence and brutal killings. Bloodshed.)
Mandalay: 500 monks, 100,000 lay people
Myingyan: 500 monks, 2000 lay people
Kyaukpantaung: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Mogoke: 100 monks
Taunggoke: 30 monks, 50,000 lay people
Rambree (Arakan State): 150 monks, 1500 lay people
29 Sept.
Rangoon: 70,000 demonstrators. (the Junta responded with violence and brutal killings. Bloodshed.)
Mandalay: 5000 demonstrators
Mogoke: 200 monks, 50,000 lay people
Kyaukpantaung: 1000 monks, 30,000 lay people
Pakokku: 2500 monks, 200,000 lay people
Yenanchaung: 200 monks, 30,000 lay people
Akyab (Arakan State): 6000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Taunggoke Twonship - Ywama Taik: 200 monks, 10,000 lay people
Taunggyi (Shan State): 400 demonstrators
30 Sept.
Rangoon: 10,000 (the Junta responded with violence and brutal killings. Bloodshed.)
Mandalay: 200 demonstrators with motorbikes
Kyaukpantaung: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Pakkoku: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Yenanchaung: 100 monks, 10,000 lay people
Akyab (Arakan State): 80 monks, 3000 lay people
Taunggoke: 1000 demonstrators
Maing-Phyat / Tachileik: 120 monks
Demawsoe: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Phrusoe: undisclosed number of demonstrators
OCTOBER 2007
1 Oct.
Rangoon: 2000
Kyaukpantaung: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Nyaung Oo: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Taunggoke Township - Sapyin village: 5000 demonstrators
Man Aung: 5000 demonstrators
2 Oct.
Rangoon: 100 students
Man Aung: 100 monks, 1000 lay people
Kyaukphyu: undisclosed number of demonstrators
(NOTE: There are still other cities not informed. The list will be updated as information is received)
SOURCE: Internet blogs and news
***********************************************
SUMMARY (in alphabetical order)
Akyab (Arakan State): 200 students celebrated U Otama Day and lay wreath at U Otama Park.
Aunglan: 100 monks
Akyab (Arakan State): 500 monks, 10,000 people. The army shot at the crowds and beated them. Dispersed with tear gas.
Amarapura: 150 monks
Akyab: 2000 monks and 10,000 lay people took over the State Administrative Office
Amarapura: 100 monks
Amarapura: 1000 monks
Akyab (Arakan State) : 20,000 monks, 200,000 lay people
Aunglan: 200 monks, 15,000 lay people
Amarapura: 2000 monks
Akyab (Arakan State): 100,000 demonstrators
Akyab (Arakan State): 4000 monks, 50,000 lay people
Amarapura: 1000 monks
Akyab (Arakan State): 6000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Akyab (Arakan State): Crowd dispersed by shootings. Bloodshed (?)
Akyab (Arakan State): 80 monks, 3000 lay people
Buthitaung (Arakan State): 1
Bogalay: 5 NLD members / 1000 others
Bago: 2000 monks
Bago: 2000 monks from Kya Khat Waing and 100,000 lay people
Bago: 2000 monks, 5000 lay people
Bago: 500 monks
Bahmo (Kachin State): 100 monks, University students waged poster war
Bahmo (Kachin State): 300 monks
Bago: 3000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Bahmo (Kachin State): 300 monks
Bassein: 400 monks, 3000 lay people
Bahmo: 200 monks
Chauk: 60 monks
Chauk: 100 monks
Chauk: 400 monks
Chauk: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Chauk: 3000 demonstrators
Dawpong: 12 NLD members
Daik-Oo: 200 monks, 500 lay people
Daik Oo: 400 monks, 2000 lay people
Demawsoe: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Gu: 4 NLD members
Hakha (Chin State): 25 NLD members
Hlaing Thaya Zone 1 (Rangoon): Taw-win Myanmar Textile Factory, 200 workers
Hlaing Thaya Zone 1 (Rangoon): Taw-win Myanmar Textile Factory, 200 workers
Hlaing Thaya Zone 3 (Rangoon): Baw-ga Textile Factory, 200 workers
Henzada: 800 monks
Henzada: 800 monks, 2000 lay people
Hmawbi: 1000 monks
Henzada: 800 monks, 5000 lay people
India-Bodagaya: Burmese-scholar monks
India: Nalanda University, Burmese-scholar monks
Kyaukse: 15 Writers and Poets
Kyaukpantaung: 700 monks
Kyopinkauk: 250 monks
Kyobinkauk: 250 monks
Kyaukpantaung: 250 people
Kyaukphyu: 100 monks, 200 lay people
Kyopinkauk: 250 monks
Kalaymyo: 200 monks
Kwanchangone: 60 monks
Kyopinkauk: 500 monks, 5000 lay people
Kengtung (Shan State): 600 monks
Kwanchankone: 500 monks, 5000 people
Kaw-hmu: 100 monks, 1000 laypeople
Kalemyo: 500 monks
Kyauktaw: 60 monks
Kyaukpandaung: 500 monks
Kalemyo: 600 monks and unknown number of Kalay University Students (CNN)
Kwanchangone: 400 monks, 1000 lay people
Kyaukphyu (Arakan State): 100 monks
Kyauk Taung: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Kyaukme (Shan State): 40 monks
Kawthaung: 30 monks, 500 lay people
Kawkariek: undisclosed numbers of monks demonstrated
Kyaukpantaung: 1500 monks, 10,000 lay people
Kalemyo: 600 monks, 10,000 lay people
Kyaukphyu: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Kya-inn Seik-gyi: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Kawthaung: 30 monks, 150 lay people
Kyaukpantaung: 1500 monks, 100,000 lay people
Katha: 50 monks, 1500 lay people
Kawkareik: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Kyaukpantaung: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Kyaukpantaung: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Kyaukpantaung: 1000 monks, 30,000 lay people
Kyaukphyu: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Kyaukpantaung: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Lapwatta: 1000
Letpandan: 100 monks
Letpandan: 400 monks
Myitkyina (Kachin State): Students waged Poster war.
Myao Thit: 5 NLD members
Myit-Che: 30 AIDS victims
Myitkyina (Kachin State): Students waged poster war
Myingyan: 300 monks boycott junta's alms
Myingyan: some monks (number unknown)
Mandalay: 1000 monks, 5000 lay people
Mogoke: 200 monks
Mongywa: 800 monks, 2000 lay people
Mogoke: 500 monks and 10,000 lay people
Minbu: 40 monks
Mongywa: 2000 monks, 4000 lay people
Myitkyina (Kachin State): University students waged poster war
Mandalay: 10,000 monks, 10,000 lay people
Magwe: 300 monks
Minbu: 40 monks
Monywa: 300 monks
Minpya: 400 monks
Mrauk Oo: 200 monks
Mandalay: 10,000 monks
Mongywa: 1000 monks, 5000 lay people
Myitkyina: 300 monks, 1000 lay people
Minbu: 40 monks
Magwe: 300 monks
Minbu: 4000 monks
Mandalay: 10,000 monks
Minpya: 200 monks, 5000 lay people
Mrauk Oo (Arakan State): 300 monks, 5000 lay people
Maungdaw (Arakan State): undisclosed numbers of monks demonstrated
Myitkyina (Kachin State): 300 monks, 10,000 lay people
Mogoke: 2000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Mawlamyaing (Mon State): 1500 monks, 5000 lay people
Mandalay: 20,000 monks, 20,000 lay people
Myingyan: 500 monks, 40,000 lay people
Mogoke: 3000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Mongywa: 400 monks, 10,000 lay people
Myitkyina: 180 monks, 1000 lay people
Magwe: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Mohynin (Kachin State): 100 monks, 5000 lay people
Minpya: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Mrauk Oo: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Mawlamyaing: 2000 monks, 1500 lay people
Mandalay: 30,000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Myingyan: 3000 monks, 100,000 lay people (20 police joined the demo)
Mongywa: 700 monks, 40,000 lay people
Mawlamyaing (Mon State): 2500 monks, 2000 lay people
Mandalay: 10,000 monks, 10,000 lay people
Myingyan: 3000 monks, 10,000 lay people
Mogoke: 100 monks
Mandalay: 5000 demonstrators
Mogoke: 200 monks, 50,000 lay people
Mandalay: 200 demonstrators with motorbikes
Maing-Phyat / Tachileik: 120 monks
Man Aung: 5000 demonstrators
Man Aung: 100 monks, 1000 lay people
Mandalay: 500 monks, 100,000 lay people
Myingyan: 500 monks, 2000 lay people
Nyaungdon: 2 monks
Nyaungdon: 10 monks
Nyaung Oo: 100 monks, 100 lay people
Natalin: 50 monks
New Mon State Party ( a cease fire group) issued a statement supporting the Saffron Revolution
Natmauk: 275 monks
Nyaung Oo: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Pakokku: 10 NLD members
Pakokku: 600 monks (The Junta responded with violence and brutal beatings of the monks)
Pakkoku: 600 monks
Prome: 600 monks
Pongna Kyun: 400 monks
Pakokku: 1000 monks, 50000 lay people
Prome: 500 monks
Pakkoku: 2500 monks, 200 nuns, 100,000 lay people
Pongnakyun: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Prome: 3000 monks, 10,000 lay people
Phyapone: 200 monks, 2000 lay people
Patheingyi: 40 monks
Prome: 87 monks
Pakokku: 2000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Phrusoe: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Pakokku: 2500 monks, 200,000 lay people
Pakkoku: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Rangoon: 1000 monks and 20,000 lay peoples
Rangoon: 1500 monks, 10,000 lay people
Rangoon: 600 Dagon University students
Rangoon: Students from Ywathagyi Institute of Economics walked out from the examination and boycott.
Rangoon: 2000 monks, 30000 lay people at Shwedagon Pagoda
Rangoon: 4000 monks and 800 Kabaaye Sasana University students, 10,000 lay people
Rangoon: 5000 monks, 5000 lay people
Rangoon: 10,000 monks and nuns, 10,000 lay people
Rangoon: 10,000 monks, 300,000 lay people
Rangoon: 50,000 monks, 300,000 lay people
Rangoon: 30,000 monks, 300,000 lay people (the Junta responded with violence and brutal killings. Bloodshed.)
Rangoon: 150,000 lay people (the Junta responded with violence and brutal killings. Bloodshed.)
Rangoon: 50,000 demonstrators (the Junta responded with violence and brutal killings. Bloodshed.)
Rambree (Arakan State): 150 monks, 1500 lay people
Rangoon: 70,000 demonstrators. (the Junta responded with violence and brutal killings. Bloodshed.)
Rangoon: 10,000 (the Junta responded with violence and brutal killings. Bloodshed.)
Rangoon: 2000
Rangoon: 100 students
Sri Lanka: Burmese monks scholars
Shwe Taung: 41 monks
Syriam: 100 monks
Sagaing: 1000 monks
Shwebo: 100 monks, 1000 lay people
Shwebo: 200 monks, 2000 lay people
Sagaing: 200 monks
Sagaing: 1000 monks
Shwebo: 250 monks, 2000 lay people
Sagaing: undisclosed numbers of monks demonstrated
Sinphyukyun: 150 monks, 1000 lay people
Sagaing: 150 monks
Shwebo: 400 monks, 10,000 lay people
Taunggyi (Shan State): 17 NLD members
Taunggoke: 3000
Taunggoke: A solo demo
Taungdwingyi: 100 monks, 10,000 lay people
Taungoo: 250 monks
Taungdwingyi: 120 monks, 3000 lay people
Tharawaddy: 10 monks
Taungoo: 600 monks, 5000 lay people
Tavoy: 200 monks
Taungdwingyi: 150 monks, 5000 lay people
Taungtha: 37 monks
Taungoo: 100 monks
Taunggoke: 200 monks, 30,000 lay people
Tavoy: 500 monks, 1000 lay people
Tavoy: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Taunggoke: 10,000 demonstrators
Taunggoke: 30 monks, 50,000 lay people
Taunggoke Twonship - Ywama Taik: 200 monks, 10,000 lay people
Taunggyi (Shan State): 400 demonstrators
Taunggoke: 1000 demonstrators
Taunggoke Township - Sapyin village: 5000 demonstrators
Yezagyo: 200 monks
Yathetaung: 20 people
Yenanchaung: 200 monks, 3000 lay people
Yathetaung: 50 monks, 600 lay people
Yathetaung: 70 monks, 2000 lay people
Yenanchaung: 700 monks, 30000 lay people
Yesagyo: 250 monks
Yathetaung: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Ye: 150 monks, 1500 lay people
Yenanchaung: 1500 monks, 4000 lay people
Yenanchaung: 200 monks, 30,000 lay people
Yenanchaung: 100 monks, 10,000 lay people
Recently the military junta of Burma told the UN envoy that the September 2007 monk-led political unrest as only confined to Rangoon, Mandalay and Akyab, down playing the fact that it was a wide-based mass display of discontent. The truth is that the Saffron Revolution was joined by students and poeple of all walks of life and it was not confined to a few cities. The following is the list of cities from various States and Divisions across the country that joined the uprisings and the number of monks and lay people involved.
SEPTEMBER
1 Sept.
2 Sept.
Buthitaung (Arakan State): 1 (solo demo)
3 Sept.
Lapwatta: 1000
Kyaukse: 15 Writers and Poets
Pakokku: 10 NLD members
Myitkyina (Kachin State): Students waged Poster war.
4 Sept.
Hakha (Chin State): 25 NLD members
Taunggyi (Shan State): 17 NLD members
Taunggoke: 3000
5 Sept.
Pakokku: 600 monks (The Junta responded with violence and brutal beatings of the monks)
Bogalay: 5 NLD members / 1000 others
6 Sept.
The monks burnt 3 police cars and took hold of 13 authorities and destroy a house and a shop belonging to supporters of
the military junta.
Myao Thit: 5 NLD members
Hlaing Thaya Zone 1 (Rangoon): Taw-win Myanmar Textile Factory, 200 workers
7 Sept.
Myit-Che: 30 AIDS victims
Gu: 4 NLD members
Hlaing Thaya Zone 1 (Rangoon): Taw-win Myanmar Textile Factory, 200 workers
Hlaing Thaya Zone 3 (Rangoon): Baw-ga Textile Factory, 200 workers
8 Sept.
Dawpong: 12 NLD members
Myitkyina (Kachin State): Students waged poster war
9 Sept.
All Burma Sanga Allaince gave momentum to the junta that the monks will boycott the military junta if there is no formal apology for the Pakkoku incident, where some monks were brutally beaten on 5 September.
Akyab (Arakan State): 200 students celebrated U Otama Day and lay wreath at U Otama Park.
Nyaung Tone: 2 monks
10 Sept.
11 Sept.Taunggoke: A solo demo
12 Sept.
13 Sept.
14 Sept.
15 Sept.
16 Sept.
Chauk: 60 monks
Myingyan: 300 monks boycott junta's alms
17 Sept.
Kyaukpantaung: 700 monks
Kyopinkauk: 250 monks
18 Sept.
Rangoon: 1000 monks and 20,000 lay peoples
Bago: 2000 monks
Kyobinkauk: 250 monks
Myingyan: some monks (number unknown)
Kyaukpantaung: 250 people
Chauk: 100 monks
Aunglan: 100 monks
Pakkoku: 600 monks
Akyab (Arakan State): 500 monks, 10,000 people. The army shot at the crowds and beated them. Dispersed with tear gas.
Kyaukphyu: 100 monks, 200 lay people
Sri Lanka: Burmese monks scholars
19 Sept.
Rangoon: 1500 monks, 10,000 lay people
Rangoon: 600 Dagon University students
Rangoon: Students from Ywathagyi Institute of Economics walked out from the examination and boycott.
Mandalay: 1000 monks, 5000 lay people
Amarapura: 150 monks
Mogoke: 200 monks
Bago: 2000 monks from Kya Khat Waing and 100,000 lay people
Prome: 600 monks
Kyopinkauk: 250 monks
Nyaungdon: 10 monks
Kalaymyo: 200 monks
Akyab: 2000 monks and 10,000 lay people took over the State Administrative Office
Pongna Kyun: 400 monks
India-Bodagaya: Burmese-scholar monks
20 Sept.
Rangoon: 2000 monks, 30000 lay people at Shwedagon Pagoda
Kwanchangone: 60 monks
Amarapura: 100 monks
Bago: 2000 monks, 5000 lay people
Shwe Taung: 41 monks
Kyopinkauk: 500 monks, 5000 lay people
Mongywa: 800 monks, 2000 lay people
Yezagyo: 200 monks
Yathetaung: 20 people
21 Sept.
Rangoon: 4000 monks and 800 Kabaaye Sasana University students, 10,000 lay people
Syriam: 100 monks
Mogoke: 500 monks and 10,000 lay people
Amarapura: 1000 monks
Pakokku: 1000 monks, 50000 lay people
Chauk: 400 monks
Minbu: 40 monks
Sagaing: 1000 monks
Mongywa: 2000 monks, 4000 lay people
Shwebo: 100 monks, 1000 lay people
Bago: 500 monks
Daik-Oo: 200 monks, 500 lay people
Prome: 500 monks
Letpandan: 100 monks
Kengtung (Shan State): 600 monks
Bahmo (Kachin State): 100 monks, University students waged poster war
Myitkyina (Kachin State): University students waged poster war
22 Sept.
Rangoon: 5000 monks, 5000 lay people
Kwanchankone: 500 monks, 5000 people
Kaw-hmu: 100 monks, 1000 laypeople
Mandalay: 10,000 monks, 10,000 lay people
Magwe: 300 monks
Minbu: 40 monks
Yenanchaung: 200 monks, 3000 lay people
Taungdwingyi: 100 monks, 10,000 lay people
Shwebo: 200 monks, 2000 lay people
Monywa: 300 monks
Kalemyo: 500 monks
Sagaing: 200 monks
Henzada: 800 monks
Taungoo: 250 monks
Minpya: 400 monks
Mrauk Oo: 200 monks
Kyauktaw: 60 monks
India: Nalanda University, Burmese-scholar monks
23 Sept.
Rangoon: 10,000 monks and nuns, 10,000 lay people
Mandalay: 10,000 monks
Kyaukpandaung: 500 monks
Sagaing: 1000 monks
Mongywa: 1000 monks, 5000 lay people
Kalemyo: 600 monks and unknown number of Kalay University Students (CNN)
Shwebo: 250 monks, 2000 lay people
Myitkyina: 300 monks, 1000 lay people
Bahmo: 300 monks
Minbu: 40 monks
Magwe: 300 monks
Taungdwingyi: 120 monks, 3000 lay people
Henzada: 800 monks, 2000 lay people
Minbu: 4000 monks
Yathetaung: 50 monks, 600 lay people
24 Sept.
Rangoon: 10,000 monks, 300,000 lay people
Hmawbi: 1000 monks
Kwanchangone: 400 monks, 1000 lay people
Mandalay: 10,000 monks
Pakkoku: 2500 monks, 200 nuns, 100,000 lay people
Akyab (Arakan State) : 20,000 monks, 200,000 lay people
Minpya: 200 monks, 5000 lay people
Yathetaung: 70 monks, 2000 lay people
Kyaukphyu (Arakan State): 100 monks
Mrauk Oo (Arakan State): 300 monks, 5000 lay people
Kyauk Taung: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Pongnakyun: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Maungdaw (Arakan State): undisclosed numbers of monks demonstrated
Bago: 3000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Prome: 3000 monks, 10,000 lay people
Natalin: 50 monks
Tharawaddy: 10 monks
Letpandan: 400 monks
Sagaing: undisclosed numbers of monks demonstrated
Daik Oo: 400 monks, 2000 lay people
Taungoo: 600 monks, 5000 lay people
Kyaukme (Shan State): 40 monks
Myitkyina (Kachin State): 300 monks, 10,000 lay people
Bahmo (Kachin State): 300 monks
Mogoke: 2000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Mawlamyaing (Mon State): 1500 monks, 5000 lay people
New Mon State Party ( a cease fire group) issued a statement supporting the Saffron Revolution
Kawkariek: undisclosed numbers of monks demonstrated
Phyapone: 200 monks, 2000 lay people
Bassein: 400 monks, 3000 lay people
Henzada: 800 monks, 5000 lay people
Tavoy: 200 monks
Kawthaung: 30 monks, 500 lay people
Yenanchaung: 700 monks, 30000 lay people
Sinphyukyun: 150 monks, 1000 lay people
Yesagyo: 250 monks
Natmauk: 275 monks
Taungdwingyi: 150 monks, 5000 lay people
Aunglan: 200 monks, 15,000 lay people
25 Sept.
Rangoon: 50,000 monks, 300,000 lay people
Mandalay: 20,000 monks, 20,000 lay people
Amarapura: 2000 monks
Taungtha: 37 monks
Myingyan: 500 monks, 40,000 lay people
Patheingyi: 40 monks
Mogoke: 3000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Nyaung Oo: 100 monks, 100 lay people
Kyaukpantaung: 1500 monks, 10,000 lay people
Sagaing: 150 monks
Kalemyo: 600 monks, 10,000 lay people
Mongywa: 400 monks, 10,000 lay people
Shwebo: 400 monks, 10,000 lay people
Magwe: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Chauk: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Taungoo: 100 monks
Prome: 87 monks
Myitkyina: 180 monks, 1000 lay people
Bahmo: 200 monks
Mohynin (Kachin State): 100 monks, 5000 lay people
Akyab (Arakan State): 100,000 demonstrators
Taunggoke: 200 monks, 30,000 lay people
Kyaukphyu: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Minpya: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Mrauk Oo: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Yathetaung: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Mawlamyaing: 2000 monks, 1500 lay people
Ye: 150 monks, 1500 lay people
Kya-inn Seik-gyi: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Tavoy: 500 monks, 1000 lay people
Kawthaung: 30 monks, 150 lay people
26 Sept. (Taw-tha-lin Full moon day)
Rangoon: 30,000 monks, 300,000 lay people (the Junta responded with violence and brutal killings. Bloodshed.)
Mandalay: 30,000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Myingyan: 3000 monks, 100,000 lay people (20 police joined the demo)
Kyaukpantaung: 1500 monks, 100,000 lay people
Pakokku: 2000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Mongywa: 700 monks, 40,000 lay people
Katha: 50 monks, 1500 lay people
Akyab (Arakan State): 4000 monks, 50,000 lay people
Mawlamyaing (Mon State): 2500 monks, 2000 lay people
Kawkareik: undisclosed number of demonstrators
27 Sept.
Rangoon: 150,000 lay people (the Junta responded with violence and brutal killings. Bloodshed.)
Mandalay: 10,000 monks, 10,000 lay people
Amarapura: 1000 monks
Myingyan: 3000 monks, 10,000 lay people
Chauk: 3000 demonstrators
Yenanchaung: 1500 monks, 4000 lay people
Tavoy: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Akyab (Arakan State): Crowd dispersed by shootings. Bloodshed (?)
Taunggoke: 10,000 demonstrators
28 Sept.
Rangoon: 50,000 demonstrators (the Junta responded with violence and brutal killings. Bloodshed.)
Mandalay: 500 monks, 100,000 lay people
Myingyan: 500 monks, 2000 lay people
Kyaukpantaung: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Mogoke: 100 monks
Taunggoke: 30 monks, 50,000 lay people
Rambree (Arakan State): 150 monks, 1500 lay people
29 Sept.
Rangoon: 70,000 demonstrators. (the Junta responded with violence and brutal killings. Bloodshed.)
Mandalay: 5000 demonstrators
Mogoke: 200 monks, 50,000 lay people
Kyaukpantaung: 1000 monks, 30,000 lay people
Pakokku: 2500 monks, 200,000 lay people
Yenanchaung: 200 monks, 30,000 lay people
Akyab (Arakan State): 6000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Taunggoke Twonship - Ywama Taik: 200 monks, 10,000 lay people
Taunggyi (Shan State): 400 demonstrators
30 Sept.
Rangoon: 10,000 (the Junta responded with violence and brutal killings. Bloodshed.)
Mandalay: 200 demonstrators with motorbikes
Kyaukpantaung: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Pakkoku: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Yenanchaung: 100 monks, 10,000 lay people
Akyab (Arakan State): 80 monks, 3000 lay people
Taunggoke: 1000 demonstrators
Maing-Phyat / Tachileik: 120 monks
Demawsoe: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Phrusoe: undisclosed number of demonstrators
OCTOBER 2007
1 Oct.
Rangoon: 2000
Kyaukpantaung: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Nyaung Oo: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Taunggoke Township - Sapyin village: 5000 demonstrators
Man Aung: 5000 demonstrators
2 Oct.
Rangoon: 100 students
Man Aung: 100 monks, 1000 lay people
Kyaukphyu: undisclosed number of demonstrators
(NOTE: There are still other cities not informed. The list will be updated as information is received)
SOURCE: Internet blogs and news
***********************************************
SUMMARY (in alphabetical order)
Akyab (Arakan State): 200 students celebrated U Otama Day and lay wreath at U Otama Park.
Aunglan: 100 monks
Akyab (Arakan State): 500 monks, 10,000 people. The army shot at the crowds and beated them. Dispersed with tear gas.
Amarapura: 150 monks
Akyab: 2000 monks and 10,000 lay people took over the State Administrative Office
Amarapura: 100 monks
Amarapura: 1000 monks
Akyab (Arakan State) : 20,000 monks, 200,000 lay people
Aunglan: 200 monks, 15,000 lay people
Amarapura: 2000 monks
Akyab (Arakan State): 100,000 demonstrators
Akyab (Arakan State): 4000 monks, 50,000 lay people
Amarapura: 1000 monks
Akyab (Arakan State): 6000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Akyab (Arakan State): Crowd dispersed by shootings. Bloodshed (?)
Akyab (Arakan State): 80 monks, 3000 lay people
Buthitaung (Arakan State): 1
Bogalay: 5 NLD members / 1000 others
Bago: 2000 monks
Bago: 2000 monks from Kya Khat Waing and 100,000 lay people
Bago: 2000 monks, 5000 lay people
Bago: 500 monks
Bahmo (Kachin State): 100 monks, University students waged poster war
Bahmo (Kachin State): 300 monks
Bago: 3000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Bahmo (Kachin State): 300 monks
Bassein: 400 monks, 3000 lay people
Bahmo: 200 monks
Chauk: 60 monks
Chauk: 100 monks
Chauk: 400 monks
Chauk: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Chauk: 3000 demonstrators
Dawpong: 12 NLD members
Daik-Oo: 200 monks, 500 lay people
Daik Oo: 400 monks, 2000 lay people
Demawsoe: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Gu: 4 NLD members
Hakha (Chin State): 25 NLD members
Hlaing Thaya Zone 1 (Rangoon): Taw-win Myanmar Textile Factory, 200 workers
Hlaing Thaya Zone 1 (Rangoon): Taw-win Myanmar Textile Factory, 200 workers
Hlaing Thaya Zone 3 (Rangoon): Baw-ga Textile Factory, 200 workers
Henzada: 800 monks
Henzada: 800 monks, 2000 lay people
Hmawbi: 1000 monks
Henzada: 800 monks, 5000 lay people
India-Bodagaya: Burmese-scholar monks
India: Nalanda University, Burmese-scholar monks
Kyaukse: 15 Writers and Poets
Kyaukpantaung: 700 monks
Kyopinkauk: 250 monks
Kyobinkauk: 250 monks
Kyaukpantaung: 250 people
Kyaukphyu: 100 monks, 200 lay people
Kyopinkauk: 250 monks
Kalaymyo: 200 monks
Kwanchangone: 60 monks
Kyopinkauk: 500 monks, 5000 lay people
Kengtung (Shan State): 600 monks
Kwanchankone: 500 monks, 5000 people
Kaw-hmu: 100 monks, 1000 laypeople
Kalemyo: 500 monks
Kyauktaw: 60 monks
Kyaukpandaung: 500 monks
Kalemyo: 600 monks and unknown number of Kalay University Students (CNN)
Kwanchangone: 400 monks, 1000 lay people
Kyaukphyu (Arakan State): 100 monks
Kyauk Taung: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Kyaukme (Shan State): 40 monks
Kawthaung: 30 monks, 500 lay people
Kawkariek: undisclosed numbers of monks demonstrated
Kyaukpantaung: 1500 monks, 10,000 lay people
Kalemyo: 600 monks, 10,000 lay people
Kyaukphyu: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Kya-inn Seik-gyi: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Kawthaung: 30 monks, 150 lay people
Kyaukpantaung: 1500 monks, 100,000 lay people
Katha: 50 monks, 1500 lay people
Kawkareik: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Kyaukpantaung: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Kyaukpantaung: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Kyaukpantaung: 1000 monks, 30,000 lay people
Kyaukphyu: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Kyaukpantaung: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Lapwatta: 1000
Letpandan: 100 monks
Letpandan: 400 monks
Myitkyina (Kachin State): Students waged Poster war.
Myao Thit: 5 NLD members
Myit-Che: 30 AIDS victims
Myitkyina (Kachin State): Students waged poster war
Myingyan: 300 monks boycott junta's alms
Myingyan: some monks (number unknown)
Mandalay: 1000 monks, 5000 lay people
Mogoke: 200 monks
Mongywa: 800 monks, 2000 lay people
Mogoke: 500 monks and 10,000 lay people
Minbu: 40 monks
Mongywa: 2000 monks, 4000 lay people
Myitkyina (Kachin State): University students waged poster war
Mandalay: 10,000 monks, 10,000 lay people
Magwe: 300 monks
Minbu: 40 monks
Monywa: 300 monks
Minpya: 400 monks
Mrauk Oo: 200 monks
Mandalay: 10,000 monks
Mongywa: 1000 monks, 5000 lay people
Myitkyina: 300 monks, 1000 lay people
Minbu: 40 monks
Magwe: 300 monks
Minbu: 4000 monks
Mandalay: 10,000 monks
Minpya: 200 monks, 5000 lay people
Mrauk Oo (Arakan State): 300 monks, 5000 lay people
Maungdaw (Arakan State): undisclosed numbers of monks demonstrated
Myitkyina (Kachin State): 300 monks, 10,000 lay people
Mogoke: 2000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Mawlamyaing (Mon State): 1500 monks, 5000 lay people
Mandalay: 20,000 monks, 20,000 lay people
Myingyan: 500 monks, 40,000 lay people
Mogoke: 3000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Mongywa: 400 monks, 10,000 lay people
Myitkyina: 180 monks, 1000 lay people
Magwe: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Mohynin (Kachin State): 100 monks, 5000 lay people
Minpya: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Mrauk Oo: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Mawlamyaing: 2000 monks, 1500 lay people
Mandalay: 30,000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Myingyan: 3000 monks, 100,000 lay people (20 police joined the demo)
Mongywa: 700 monks, 40,000 lay people
Mawlamyaing (Mon State): 2500 monks, 2000 lay people
Mandalay: 10,000 monks, 10,000 lay people
Myingyan: 3000 monks, 10,000 lay people
Mogoke: 100 monks
Mandalay: 5000 demonstrators
Mogoke: 200 monks, 50,000 lay people
Mandalay: 200 demonstrators with motorbikes
Maing-Phyat / Tachileik: 120 monks
Man Aung: 5000 demonstrators
Man Aung: 100 monks, 1000 lay people
Mandalay: 500 monks, 100,000 lay people
Myingyan: 500 monks, 2000 lay people
Nyaungdon: 2 monks
Nyaungdon: 10 monks
Nyaung Oo: 100 monks, 100 lay people
Natalin: 50 monks
New Mon State Party ( a cease fire group) issued a statement supporting the Saffron Revolution
Natmauk: 275 monks
Nyaung Oo: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Pakokku: 10 NLD members
Pakokku: 600 monks (The Junta responded with violence and brutal beatings of the monks)
Pakkoku: 600 monks
Prome: 600 monks
Pongna Kyun: 400 monks
Pakokku: 1000 monks, 50000 lay people
Prome: 500 monks
Pakkoku: 2500 monks, 200 nuns, 100,000 lay people
Pongnakyun: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Prome: 3000 monks, 10,000 lay people
Phyapone: 200 monks, 2000 lay people
Patheingyi: 40 monks
Prome: 87 monks
Pakokku: 2000 monks, 100,000 lay people
Phrusoe: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Pakokku: 2500 monks, 200,000 lay people
Pakkoku: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Rangoon: 1000 monks and 20,000 lay peoples
Rangoon: 1500 monks, 10,000 lay people
Rangoon: 600 Dagon University students
Rangoon: Students from Ywathagyi Institute of Economics walked out from the examination and boycott.
Rangoon: 2000 monks, 30000 lay people at Shwedagon Pagoda
Rangoon: 4000 monks and 800 Kabaaye Sasana University students, 10,000 lay people
Rangoon: 5000 monks, 5000 lay people
Rangoon: 10,000 monks and nuns, 10,000 lay people
Rangoon: 10,000 monks, 300,000 lay people
Rangoon: 50,000 monks, 300,000 lay people
Rangoon: 30,000 monks, 300,000 lay people (the Junta responded with violence and brutal killings. Bloodshed.)
Rangoon: 150,000 lay people (the Junta responded with violence and brutal killings. Bloodshed.)
Rangoon: 50,000 demonstrators (the Junta responded with violence and brutal killings. Bloodshed.)
Rambree (Arakan State): 150 monks, 1500 lay people
Rangoon: 70,000 demonstrators. (the Junta responded with violence and brutal killings. Bloodshed.)
Rangoon: 10,000 (the Junta responded with violence and brutal killings. Bloodshed.)
Rangoon: 2000
Rangoon: 100 students
Sri Lanka: Burmese monks scholars
Shwe Taung: 41 monks
Syriam: 100 monks
Sagaing: 1000 monks
Shwebo: 100 monks, 1000 lay people
Shwebo: 200 monks, 2000 lay people
Sagaing: 200 monks
Sagaing: 1000 monks
Shwebo: 250 monks, 2000 lay people
Sagaing: undisclosed numbers of monks demonstrated
Sinphyukyun: 150 monks, 1000 lay people
Sagaing: 150 monks
Shwebo: 400 monks, 10,000 lay people
Taunggyi (Shan State): 17 NLD members
Taunggoke: 3000
Taunggoke: A solo demo
Taungdwingyi: 100 monks, 10,000 lay people
Taungoo: 250 monks
Taungdwingyi: 120 monks, 3000 lay people
Tharawaddy: 10 monks
Taungoo: 600 monks, 5000 lay people
Tavoy: 200 monks
Taungdwingyi: 150 monks, 5000 lay people
Taungtha: 37 monks
Taungoo: 100 monks
Taunggoke: 200 monks, 30,000 lay people
Tavoy: 500 monks, 1000 lay people
Tavoy: undisclosed number of demonstrators
Taunggoke: 10,000 demonstrators
Taunggoke: 30 monks, 50,000 lay people
Taunggoke Twonship - Ywama Taik: 200 monks, 10,000 lay people
Taunggyi (Shan State): 400 demonstrators
Taunggoke: 1000 demonstrators
Taunggoke Township - Sapyin village: 5000 demonstrators
Yezagyo: 200 monks
Yathetaung: 20 people
Yenanchaung: 200 monks, 3000 lay people
Yathetaung: 50 monks, 600 lay people
Yathetaung: 70 monks, 2000 lay people
Yenanchaung: 700 monks, 30000 lay people
Yesagyo: 250 monks
Yathetaung: undisclosed numbers of demonstrators
Ye: 150 monks, 1500 lay people
Yenanchaung: 1500 monks, 4000 lay people
Yenanchaung: 200 monks, 30,000 lay people
Yenanchaung: 100 monks, 10,000 lay people
Sunday, 11 November 2007
Saturday, 10 November 2007
The Saffron Revolution (3)
The Saffron Revolution and Mass Uprisings in Historical Perspective
Sun Tzu, in his classic "The Art of War", wrote - "the opportunity of deafeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself".
Careful analysis shows the classic example of this maxim to be true in Burma, where the military, has been running the country with iron-fist like an
occupying force for a long time.
Mass uprisings or the peoples show of overwhelming power took place in Burma at an average of once a decade in Burma's half a century of
history under military dictators:
- During the 1973 referendum, the general masses overwhelmingly voted "no" to the constitution drafted by the military and the dictators promulgated it anyway, paving the way for more political turmoils in the years ahead. It is noteworthy that the opportunity for the people to say "no" to the junta's plan
in unison was provided by the junta itself ;
- In 1974 the general masses gave full supports to the student-demonstrators' demand for a musoleum for the former UN General Secretary U Thant, when
he died in New York and his remains brought back to the country. The miltary yielded and U Thant musoleum was erected. The show of unity between the students, monks, workers and people of all walks of life was made possible when the dictators showed no respect to the great son of Burma, who was also revered by the world community.
-In 1988 the general masses rised up to totally abolish General Ne Win's socialist party. Three dictators, including General Ne Win himself, resigned one after another in one single month. The unity this time was provided by Ne Win himself a year before the uprisings. In 1987 he demonetised all the Burmese currencies without any compenstiton. All the peoples' hard earned money were reduced to zero in one stroke of his order. So the people were in a ready mode for a united uprising that will topple Ne Win the dictator proving once again Sun Tzu's maxim;
-During the 1990 general election the general masses took the opportunity and gave the opposition National League for Democracy a landslide victory. The military decided to not honour their promise to return to the barracks and resists all offers and initiatives for national reconciliation.
- September 2007 Saffron Revolution. As in the past the Burmese general masses today has not missed the chance to strike as the dictators provide them the opportunity once again by hiking fuel price even when the people are at the brink of starvation.
The monks-led Saffron Revolution this time has eventually pressured the military like never before. The junta's offer of dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is viewed by all Burmese inside and outside the country as a bying-time tactics as usual.
It is important to note that uprisings always occurred when the dictators become complacent and overly confident in their hold on Burma and its people. The military's lack of complete power they thought they had over the people has been exposed by the general masses time and time again.
General Than Shwe and his cohorts will try to hold on to power at all costs. But the more they attempt to prolong their stay in power the "law of unintended consequences" will take hold and like in the past decades the opposite will always occur.
Bo Than Shwe will soon realize that time is no more on his side.
to be continued...
Sun Tzu, in his classic "The Art of War", wrote - "the opportunity of deafeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself".
Careful analysis shows the classic example of this maxim to be true in Burma, where the military, has been running the country with iron-fist like an
occupying force for a long time.
Mass uprisings or the peoples show of overwhelming power took place in Burma at an average of once a decade in Burma's half a century of
history under military dictators:
- During the 1973 referendum, the general masses overwhelmingly voted "no" to the constitution drafted by the military and the dictators promulgated it anyway, paving the way for more political turmoils in the years ahead. It is noteworthy that the opportunity for the people to say "no" to the junta's plan
in unison was provided by the junta itself ;
- In 1974 the general masses gave full supports to the student-demonstrators' demand for a musoleum for the former UN General Secretary U Thant, when
he died in New York and his remains brought back to the country. The miltary yielded and U Thant musoleum was erected. The show of unity between the students, monks, workers and people of all walks of life was made possible when the dictators showed no respect to the great son of Burma, who was also revered by the world community.
-In 1988 the general masses rised up to totally abolish General Ne Win's socialist party. Three dictators, including General Ne Win himself, resigned one after another in one single month. The unity this time was provided by Ne Win himself a year before the uprisings. In 1987 he demonetised all the Burmese currencies without any compenstiton. All the peoples' hard earned money were reduced to zero in one stroke of his order. So the people were in a ready mode for a united uprising that will topple Ne Win the dictator proving once again Sun Tzu's maxim;
-During the 1990 general election the general masses took the opportunity and gave the opposition National League for Democracy a landslide victory. The military decided to not honour their promise to return to the barracks and resists all offers and initiatives for national reconciliation.
- September 2007 Saffron Revolution. As in the past the Burmese general masses today has not missed the chance to strike as the dictators provide them the opportunity once again by hiking fuel price even when the people are at the brink of starvation.
The monks-led Saffron Revolution this time has eventually pressured the military like never before. The junta's offer of dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is viewed by all Burmese inside and outside the country as a bying-time tactics as usual.
It is important to note that uprisings always occurred when the dictators become complacent and overly confident in their hold on Burma and its people. The military's lack of complete power they thought they had over the people has been exposed by the general masses time and time again.
General Than Shwe and his cohorts will try to hold on to power at all costs. But the more they attempt to prolong their stay in power the "law of unintended consequences" will take hold and like in the past decades the opposite will always occur.
Bo Than Shwe will soon realize that time is no more on his side.
to be continued...
Thursday, 8 November 2007
The Saffron Revolution (2) The Blogers Front
BLOGERS' FRONT
The Information Revolution and the FREE BURMA movement
Ever since the 1988 Democracy Revolution the democratic forces have opened up many new fronts - inside and outside the country to dismantle the Burmese military dicatatorship. Along with the Information Revolution at its mature stage the information fronts such as online multi-media and broadcasting stations set up in the exiles are most effective new fronts in promoting democracy and freedom for Burma. Apart from the Burmese languages BBC, DVB (Norway), VOA, RFA etc. and the big online medium like irrwaddy.org, mizzima.com, khitpyaing.org etc. there are a host of Burmese language online media actively blossoming on the Internet with very powerful readership.
The advent of blogs in 1990 has one significant impact on our struggle though at its earlier stage during the beginning of the 2000s blog writers (blogers) are mostly IT-geeks/- kids. Naturally, the contents at that time are mostly to do with computer technology. Globally, the bloger community exploded after Google bought the www.blogger.com in the year 2003.
The advent of Myanmar Unicode War
The earlier Burmese blogers are naturally from the IT circle and counted not more than ten. Poets and short story writers followed suit later. But when the Burmese Unicode War started in 2004-2005 many non-IT blogers joined the crowd. With the advent of Burmese Unicode, writing Burmese weblogs online become easier and the initial IT blogers gave way to the new comers. The Burmese Unicode War started right at the time when web developers are “so hungry” of Myanmar Unicode. The users are also eager to grab the new opportunity as many of them are either not so well versed in English or simply feel more convenient in their own mother toungue. At that earlier stage there are very few Burmese language web sites and some are more keen on using the new found Myanmar Unicode for promoting their businesses online, which is to be encouraged as the process goes down the road.
For more info on Myanmar Unicode goto: http://saturngod.mysteryzillion.com/?p=157
The emergence of Zawgyi Font
Enter Zawgyi font. The emergence of Zawgyi font further heighten the online activities as it provides many new advantages to the users: free download, painstakingly created beautiful fonts, made easier as it develop etc. Before the advent of Zawgyi font most online Burmese forums are sickeningly using the Roman alphabet to write Burmese words (coined “burglish”) and communicate among themselves. Though with difficulties with lack of phonetically standardized spelling system in the beginning this medium - “burglish” - at least helps the info - “hungry” Burmese to keep communication alive across the Internet.
Now, writing in their own Burmese language online, many new comers started to take roots and sprout from every where in the vast universe of the Internet ready than ever to blossom and explode into a new stage of communication revolution. However, some Burmese youngsters across the globe are still using “burglish” as their communication tool. IRC (Internet Relay Chat) , Yahoo’s Messenger and shoutBox are the favorites of these youngsters. That means due to unresolved Myanmar Unicode War “burglish” has not yet lost its popularity in some circle. The advantage with Gtalk is its feature that enables users to communicate with Myanmar Unicode. Instead of using “burglish” or the more advanced Myanmar Unicode some Burmese/ Myanmar forums are still using non-Unicode Myanmar Fonts because they consider open source Myanmar Unicodes as unstable (no one could yet say which Unicode will become the winner) and some forums platform doesn't support Unicode. But interestingly discussions In these forums cover widely about how to develop a standardized common Unicode. For example www.forum.nativemyanmar.com does not use Unicode but encourage users to become Unicode-using blogers.
Web Developers’ role
As the Planet.com.mm from inside the country started using Zawgyi font the font become free downladable for users everywhere. Pagan Forum started a new forum using Zawgyi Burmese font. So, the Burmese online community has reached a new stage where a new opprtuinty is opened up for them to “chat” and keep the ball rolling in their own language. But at this earlier stage the Burmese language forums are not yet wide spread.
Burmese language Forums such as yamc.info and Planet.com.mm started promoting Forums using Myanmar Unicocde. Yamc.info developes virtual keyboard made easy for users of Zawgyi fonts. This saves the Myanmar Unicode users the headache of getting and montaging extra keyboard hardware to their computers.
The India-based BIT Team (Burma Information and Technology Team) also played an important role. It helps the PC users along the border as well as those inside the country, the NGOs, the Burmese media etc. and the older generation journalists and writers to be able to smoothly get involved in the communication revolution and upload their valuable books written in Burmese Unicode for a wider consumption of the Burmese Netizens.
The emergence of Political Blogers
As Zawgyi font users increase and multiply on the Internet, what once was in an exclusive realms of the IT-blogers now gave way to non- IT blogers mostly hobbyists and new generation Burmese journalists. In the beginning very few political blogers are to be found though every now and then there are to be seen some political writings contributed by those outside of Burma. But there are no exclusively political forum or blog to be seen until the emergence of a mysterious online teashop.
The mysterious Teashop
The myanmarteashop.com (now defunct) is to be given the credit for encouraging Burmese surfers to start writing extensively about Burmese politics in their forum. The Teashop skillfully use Zawgyi One and it is learnt that this teashop is an offshoot of http://www.ainmat.com/ . (ainmat means dream in Burmese). Many political minded netters jump into the band wagon and discussions of Burma’s political woes and criticism of the military junta was so rampant and become so lively on this website. It is based in the exile but no one knows for sure who the admins are. The management of the web activites is very professional and it seems to be very well organized. But at one point a suspicion arose among the participants because of the strange response from one of the admins. Participants started to leave the site as they believe the web is run by the Junta’s military intelligents. At least the intelligents got hold of the emails and passwords of these participants who are politically motivated if the suspicion is to be taken as true, though no one yet reveals who they (the admins) actually are.
And the teashop died down without giving any reason – leaving an impression of the site being hacked. Nevertheless, this mysterious experience of the Burmese political blogers has left one big advantage for the struggle – the future would be political blogers come to know each other in this “teashop”. It maybe very unwitting for the Burmese military intelligents had they been the true admins of this site. As described above they are, nevertheless, to be given due credit for awakening the sleepy political blogers to sprout and blossom on the Internet. Or a fifth columnist sympatizer of the anti-goevernment forces in the exiles might have given hints to the participants by intentionally behaving strangely enough to arouse suspicions on the honesty of the admins of the site.
For further info on this episode goto: http://kadaung.myanmarblogers.org/2007/07/blog-post_20.html
From Forums to Blogs
Discussions in the forums, though lively and enjoyable for the participants, has but one disadvantage. Your ideas and opinions are scattered all over the vast Internet. And worst still your contributions do not stay there permanently. So the time and the emotions you invested do not seem to be well worth. So people started to write blogs where their ideas, thoughts and philosophies are stored systematically and permanently (of course at least until the great Google crash and the end of the world follows!). Weblogs or, in short, blogs are a kind of personal diaries and if one has brilliant information and ideas to contribute one can yield a lot of influential power from ones own luxury of the desktop. The emergence of a superior “DESKTOP REVOLUTION” in place of an inferior “arm-chair revolution”. Blogging is actually not that easy if one do not have the required technological knowledge. But friends are helping each other by offering ready-made templates and one of the well known Burmese online site like yamc.info provides web-based tutorials for blog starters. So, as the exodus of Burmese netters from forums to blogs reach its height the quality of their blogs also increase. References and source links are quoted professionally. They “blog roll” (link) their blogs and acknowledge one another’s contribution where merit is due - respecting each other’s rights to originality. Thus, a German language commentary on netzeitung.de stated that the Burmese Bloger Community is one of the most impressive communities exchanging ideas and opinions in a professional manner.
Blogers from inside and outside Burma started uploading political news and information to their blogs and the Myanmar Blogers Community grows exponentially as exchange of ideas and information increase. In the beginning people from inside Burma are reluctant to discuss about politics. Security risk being one reason but there are other factors like poor Internet access and services, technological hindrances, the high cost of surfing in Internet café, not enjoying the luxury of having home-based PC etc. But news and information are start flowing to the outside world from inside Burma, anyway.
Enter the Saffron Revolution
The Saffron Revolution will be remembered in our history as one that effectively dismantled Burma’s isolation and allows, for the first time in half a century , information to freely flows from inside to outside and vice versa without any hindrance. Myanmar Blogers Community plays a very important roles during the Saffron Revolution, without whose activities the world community might not be awakened to that extent. The world’s media giants like CNN and the like depends on these blogers and those using other information tools like hand held phone video cameras etc. to get first hand episodes of the Saffaron Revolution and remit forward into the world stage. Moreover, there are also many new blogers who join the blogers club only at the height of the Saffron Revolution. Many newly opened Myanmar blogs incorporate TBox (Chat Box/ shout Box) to their site so a live chat could be performed to discuss or share information as the episode unfolds. Installing TBox at your blog become a must for the Burmese. Instant info is the advantage of having TBox at ones blog.
Among Myanmar blogers, http://ko-htike.blogspot.com/ (also in English) and http://niknayman.blogspot.com
become internationally well known as their blogs attract hundreds of thousands of visitors daily to keep closely in touched with the events as the Saffron Revolution unfolds. Every minutes during the day time forum chats are going on non-stop. These chats become so lively and active that some blogers “copy and paste” them on their main webpage as contents, thereby creating an impression of quick updates and attracting more visitors to their blogs. Among the new comers during the Saffron Revolution blogers like Dr. Lun Swe http://drlunswe.blogspot.com/ emerges as a prominent bloger. As the Saffron Revolution reach its height the military junta banned blogs like Ko Htike and Niknayman along with the Myanmar Forum known a yamc.info, which was banned some months before for posting overtly anti-military contents. Bloggers.com and all their sub domains are also banned by the Burmese junta following the Saffron Revolution.
Rumour Wars
At the height of the Saffron Revolution the Junta, as usual, started its rumour wars to reduce the momentum of the on-going rebellions. They spread rumours of the “junta split” or internal conflict and coup and the fleeing of Bo Than Shwe’s family to Laos etc. The Burmese populace are also very skilled in fighting back with rumours of their own. So some blogers faced criticism as they educate themselves of the need to cross check incoming information before releasing them to the outside world. In some case readers residing in the outside would cross check by calling their home back in Rangoon to confirm about the uploaded news of brutal killings in the very streets they live or somewhere nearby. Many a time the news are true. If not they would criticize the blogers very strongly for spreading false information. The flow of information become slower as they are now trying to cross check all incoming information. As an improvement news and information flow, though slower, become more reliable than before.
Solidarity Supports of the International Blogers Community
As the world is brutally awakened by the Saffron Revolution of Burma, the international Blogers Community made up of millions of blogers join in to show their solidarity supports by choosing the 4th of October 2007 as the day they all stop blogging and instead post a FREE BURMA logo on their blog as the whole day’s posting.
The site
Free Burma!
International Blogers’ Day for Burma on the 4th of October International blogers are preparing an action to support the peaceful revolution in Burma. We want to set a sign for freedom and show our sympathy for these people who are fighting their cruel regime without weapons. These Blogers are planning to refrain from posting to their blogs on October 4 and just put up one Banner then, underlined with the words „Free Burma!“.
Conclusion
Vividly describing the Saffron Revolution at its height the TIME magazine (Oct 22) stated: “.. [The courageous monks..]coursing through the city streets in a solid stream of red and orange, like blood vessels giving life to an oxygen-starved body.”
Likewise, with post-Saffron-Revolution new found friends in the number of millions at the Blogers Front the blood vessels of Burma’s democracy revolution is very much alive and energized with information from inside and outside the country flowing freely across the vast universe of Internet. Despite all attempts to ban political blogs and websites by the Burmese military junta, today’s cyber-based revolution finds its ways to keep the information revolution alive by using proxy servers and other advanced "state of the art technologies". Soon, not later, the Burmese dictators will realize that, following the Saffron Revolution, their days are numbered.
Information Source: Based on interview with the admin of yamc.info and Khaipi (khaipi.net).
to be continued ....
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