Sat Sep 29, 07 05:05 PM
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It is not easy for even the most ruthless of dictators to put down
anti-government demonstrations when the protestors happen to be
bare-footed monks armed with begging bowls. This is what’s
happening in Myanmar as monks march across the country in a frontal
challenge to the ruling military regime, which seems to be at its
wit’s end to come up with an effective response. The pro-democracy
protests began last month as the government abruptly hiked fuel
prices, pushing up transport fares that triggered a sharp rise in
the price of consumer goods. Although activists and members of the
main opposition party initially led the protests, monks, nuns and
the public soon joined them, denouncing the military rule.
Such public defiance has not been seen for nearly 20 years as the
generals usually adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards the
slightest criticism. This suggests that Myanmar’s military masters
thought the protestors’ momentum would eventually die down. The
protests, however, ......
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