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Monks lead largest Burma protest Monks lead largest Burma protest
(20 minutes later)
Thousands of monks and civilians are marching through Burma's former capital in what appears to be the biggest anti-government protest so far. 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 people demonstrating on Monday was as high as 30,000. Eyewitnesses said the number of monks and civilians demonstrating was more than 30,000, with some activists saying 100,000 were involved.
It follows Sunday's march in Rangoon by 20,000 monks and nuns, in what was the largest protest for almost 20 years. Some monks carried placards calling for better living conditions and national reconciliation, witnesses said.
Events are now moving unpredictably, analysts say. So far the ruling generals are showing unusual restraint. The military government has so far showed restraint against the protests.
Monks are revered in Burma and any action against them by the military government would spark an outcry. Monks are highly revered in Burma and any action against them would spark an outcry.
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
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
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.
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.
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. One suggestion is that China, Burma's most important trading partner, is urging the generals to do so.
Detained leaderDetained 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.
Some of the monks were carrying placards calling for better living conditions and national reconciliation, witnesses said.
In pictures: Burma rallies Profile: Shwedagon Pagoda Send us your commentsIn 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 organisation that has emerged to lead the protests, the Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks, urged people in the country to join Monday's protests.The organisation that has emerged to lead the protests, the Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks, urged people in the country to join Monday's protests.
In a statement on Friday, the monks' group vowed to continue the marches until they had "wiped the military dictatorship from the land".In a statement on Friday, the monks' group 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.
Pro-democracy activists led the initial demonstrations against the move, but dozens of them have been arrested.Pro-democracy activists led the initial demonstrations against the move, but dozens of them have been arrested.
Monks then joined the movement after troops used force to break up a peaceful rally in the town of Pakokku on 5 September.Monks then joined the movement after troops used force to break up a peaceful rally in the town of Pakokku on 5 September.
Speaking on the sidelines of a UN meeting, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said America was watching the situation "very carefully" and denounced Burma's "brutal regime".Speaking on the sidelines of a UN meeting, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said America was watching the situation "very carefully" and denounced Burma's "brutal regime".
"The Burmese people deserve better. They deserve the right to be able to live in freedom, just as everyone does," she said."The Burmese people deserve better. They deserve the right to be able to live in freedom, just as everyone does," she said.
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.
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