The Resistance of the Monks in Burma
jj September 28th, 2009
After the Burmese military government’s brutal crackdown on Buddhist monks and other peaceful protestors in September 2007, the constant refrain was, “What happened to the monks?” The report “The Resistance of the Monks” attempts to answer that question within the context of the long history of political activism of the Sangha, the Buddhist monkhood, in Burma. It tells the story of many monks who were arrested, threatened, beaten, and imprisoned. It is a sad and disturbing story, but one that exemplifies the harsh rule of Burma’s military government as it clings to power through violence, fear, and repression.
The report provides an overview of the history of Buddhist activism in Burma since colonial times, the role of monks in the 1962 and 1974 anti-government demonstrations and the 1988 nationwide uprising. It looks at the key role monks played in the 2007 demonstrations, and in coordinating relief services in Burma following Cyclone Nargis in 2008.
Utilizing dozens of interviews with Buddhist monks inside Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka and in exile in the West, The Resistance of the Monks tells the story of the pivotal role played by monks as social mediators, as an important social safety net for Burmese people as poverty has grown under military rule, and as a key barometer of basic freedoms in Burmese society ahead of scheduled elections in 2010. You can download the full report here.
- Civil Disobedience , Democracy , Literature , Nonviolent Action , Police , Protest , Resistance , Revolution , Surveillance , Torture , Violence
- Comments(0)
