Scores of pro-democracy Buddhist monks took to the streets of Myanmar’s second-biggest city Saturday, rallying against the military coup in demonstrations that coincided with the 14th anniversary of previous clergy-led mass protests. Myanmar has been in turmoil and its economy paralysed since February when the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government, ending a ten-year experiment with democracy. Historically, monks in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar have been seen as a supreme moral authority, organising communities and at times mobilising opposition to the military regimes. The monks chanted for the release of political prisoners including members of Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party, which won a landslide in last November’s election. In 2007, Buddhist monks led huge demonstrations nationwide against the previous military junta regime — an uprising that kicked off after a sudden hike in fuel prices.

Source: The Guardian September 25, 2021 09:33 UTC