This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7009825.stm
The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 11 | Version 12 |
|---|---|
| Monks lead largest Burma protest | Monks lead largest Burma protest |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Tens of thousands of people have marched through Burma's main city of Rangoon in the biggest of a mounting wave of anti-government protests. | Tens of thousands of people have marched through Burma's main city of Rangoon in the biggest of a mounting wave of anti-government protests. |
| Eyewitnesses said the number of monks and civilians demonstrating was more than 30,000, with some activists saying 100,000 were involved. | Eyewitnesses said the number of monks and civilians demonstrating was more than 30,000, with some activists saying 100,000 were involved. |
| Some monks carried placards calling for better living conditions and national reconciliation, witnesses said. | Some monks carried placards calling for better living conditions and national reconciliation, witnesses said. |
| The military government has so far showed restraint against the protests. | The military government has so far showed restraint against the protests. |
| Monks are highly revered in Burma and any action against them would spark an outcry. | Monks are highly revered in Burma and any action against them would spark an outcry. |
| But there are fears of a repeat of 1988, when the last democracy uprising was crushed by the military and some 3,000 people were killed, correspondents say. | But there are fears of a repeat of 1988, when the last democracy uprising was crushed by the military and some 3,000 people were killed, correspondents say. |
| PROTESTS MOUNT 15 Aug: Junta doubles fuel prices, sparking protests5 Sept: Monks hurt in protest crackdown17 Sept: Junta fails to apologise to monks18 Sept: 1,000 monks protest in Sittwe19 Sept: 2,000 protest in Sittwe, others in Mandalay and Rangoon20 Sept: 100s march around Rangoon's Shwedagon Pagoda21 Sept: 1,500 protest in Rangoon and issue strong statement22 Sept:1,000 march in Rangoon, visiting home of Aung San Suu Kyi23 Sept: Up to 20,000 march in Rangoon24 Sept: Up to 30,000 protest in Rangoon | PROTESTS MOUNT 15 Aug: Junta doubles fuel prices, sparking protests5 Sept: Monks hurt in protest crackdown17 Sept: Junta fails to apologise to monks18 Sept: 1,000 monks protest in Sittwe19 Sept: 2,000 protest in Sittwe, others in Mandalay and Rangoon20 Sept: 100s march around Rangoon's Shwedagon Pagoda21 Sept: 1,500 protest in Rangoon and issue strong statement22 Sept:1,000 march in Rangoon, visiting home of Aung San Suu Kyi23 Sept: Up to 20,000 march in Rangoon24 Sept: Up to 30,000 protest in Rangoon |
| Five columns of monks, one reportedly stretching for more than 1km (0.6 miles), entered the city centre to cheers and applause from thousands of bystanders. | Five columns of monks, one reportedly stretching for more than 1km (0.6 miles), entered the city centre to cheers and applause from thousands of bystanders. |
| "People locked arms around the monks. They were clapping and cheering," one witness told Reuters news agency. | "People locked arms around the monks. They were clapping and cheering," one witness told Reuters news agency. |
| Many of the civilians who joined in pinned small pieces of the monks' robes onto their clothing; some were in tears. | Many of the civilians who joined in pinned small pieces of the monks' robes onto their clothing; some were in tears. |
| Civilians who joined in included officials from the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party, led by Aung San Suu Kyi. | Civilians who joined in included officials from the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party, led by Aung San Suu Kyi. |
| The British ambassador in Rangoon, Mark Canning, said Burma's leaders were now in uncharted territory. | The British ambassador in Rangoon, Mark Canning, said Burma's leaders were now in uncharted territory. |
| "Firstly, the demonstrations could subside - I mean, that's looking less and less likely by the day," he told the BBC. | "Firstly, the demonstrations could subside - I mean, that's looking less and less likely by the day," he told the BBC. |
| "Secondly, that we could see some sort of counter-reaction, which I've said would be a disaster, although in terms of probability it, I'm afraid, ranks quite high." | "Secondly, that we could see some sort of counter-reaction, which I've said would be a disaster, although in terms of probability it, I'm afraid, ranks quite high." |
| The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says it is not clear why the generals are so far exercising such restraint. | The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says it is not clear why the generals are so far exercising such restraint. |
| One suggestion is that China, Burma's most important trading partner, is urging the generals to be cautious. | One suggestion is that China, Burma's most important trading partner, is urging the generals to be cautious. |
| Detained leader | Detained leader |
| Two well-known actors, comedian Zargana and film star Kyaw Thu, went to Rangoon's golden Shwedagon Pagoda early on Monday to offer food and water to the monks before they started their march. | Two well-known actors, comedian Zargana and film star Kyaw Thu, went to Rangoon's golden Shwedagon Pagoda early on Monday to offer food and water to the monks before they started their march. |
| In pictures: Burma rallies Profile: Shwedagon Pagoda Send us your comments | In pictures: Burma rallies Profile: Shwedagon Pagoda Send us your comments |
| On Saturday, monks marched to greet pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest, but access to her home was barred on Sunday, and again on Monday. | On Saturday, monks marched to greet pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest, but access to her home was barred on Sunday, and again on Monday. |
| The monks have urged the Burmese people to hold prayer vigils in their doorways for 15 minutes at 2000 (1330 GMT) on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. | The monks have urged the Burmese people to hold prayer vigils in their doorways for 15 minutes at 2000 (1330 GMT) on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. |
| In a statement on Friday, the organisation that has emerged to lead the protests, the Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks, vowed to continue the marches until they had "wiped the military dictatorship from the land". | In a statement on Friday, the organisation that has emerged to lead the protests, the Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks, vowed to continue the marches until they had "wiped the military dictatorship from the land". |
| This will be the eighth straight day of action by the monks. The protests were triggered by the government's decision to double the price of fuel last month, hitting people hard in the impoverished nation. | This will be the eighth straight day of action by the monks. The protests were triggered by the government's decision to double the price of fuel last month, hitting people hard in the impoverished nation. |
| Are you in Burma? Have you witnessed the protests? What is the mood like in the country? Send us your comments and experiences. | Are you in Burma? Have you witnessed the protests? What is the mood like in the country? Send us your comments and experiences. |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +447725100100. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +447725100100. |
| If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions | If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| I witnessed the big protests in Rangoon today. I am really sorry for our country and our people because we are under the control of the wicked junta.We haven't got arms, we wish for peace, a better future and democracy. We are hoping that the UN security council will put a pressure on the junta. Kyi Kyi, Rangoon | |
| I saw about 40,000 to 50,000 people, including monks, nuns and ordinary people, marching along Prome road. That was at around 3:30pm. The protests will grow bigger day by day and I hope that they are not going to start killing people. We need help to save our people. Mr Tun, Rangoon | |
| It is astounding to see such a great mass of people on both sides of the roads, some clapping and some crying, but all demonstrating their support for the monks and those chanting prayers. It's for sure that all these people showing their support are willing to be part of the mass protest. They do not trust the government though and think that they could be crushed, just like it happened in 1988. But if we are just bystanders, today's rare and momentous events might not lead to the fall of the regime. Kyaw, Rangoon | |
| I am not sure where these protests are going to lead to, but I am sure that it's not at all a good sign. Many people are expecting that there will be a great change coming soon. I am not sure if the monks will be joined by students, workers, or even soldiers. We are very insecure because we don't know what the government is planning to do. There are some news in the government - controlled newspapers that the monks are trying to agitate the public. This can be a big excuse for them to start attacking the monks. I really want some changes in Burma but I am not sure where the change is going to lead us to. I hope there won't be any blood-bath this time like there was in 1988. Soe Soe, Mandalay | |
| We need a little reason to combine all opposition resources into one mass movement. This reason must be a political issue. The current situation can lead to a civil war because hardline junta still holds the power and the opposition might use this opportunity to form an armed struggle. After 1988, many activists, including students, ran to the border and took up the arms against the government. This time we want things to change peacefully, not through a civil war. But if there's no way to avoid the arms struggle, the people will choose it and the conditions in our poor country may become worse. The international pressure, including from China and Russia, is very important for the future of Burma at this moment. Mg Khar, Rangoon | |
| One of the monks who took part in the protests came to us and told us about his experiences. He said: "We are not afraid, we haven't committed a crime, we just say prayers and take part in the protests. We haven't accepted money from onlookers although they offered us a lot. We just accept water. People clapped,smiled and cheered us." The monk seemed very happy, excited and proud. But I'm worried for them. They care for us and we pray for them not to get harmed. Mya, Rangoon | |