Economic desperation was the trigger for the peaceful uprising that would come to be known as, “the Saffron Revolution,” named after the color of monks’ robes. In a setting where market prices had already tripled or quadrupled within the past year, in August 2007, the Burmese junta suddenly decided to lift fuel subsidies. As a result, fuel prices skyrocketed as much as 500% overnight, with food and other commodities’ prices following suit.  What didn’t happen was the same rise in income levels, leaving millions of people across the country unable to perform even the most basic functions such as buying food, traveling, and paying for children education.

On August 19th, Buddhist monks overturned their alms bowls, historically considered an act of defiance, and refused to receive alms from the Burmese generals. In other words, they stopped giving these generals Buddha’s blessings. They began to protest in the streets of major cities, and soon they were joined by pro-democracy activists, nuns, and local residents. In a matter of a few days, thousands of demonstrators from all walks of life were pouring into the streets across Burma, demanding the political and economic reforms from the military government.

On September 5th, troops broke up a demonstration in Pakokku, a town in central Burma, injuring dozens of monks. Members of the sangha, the Buddhist clergy union, delivered an ultimatum to the military government to be met by September 17th, demanding an apology. The junta never apologized.

On September 22nd, thousands of monks marched in cities across Burma. Ten thousand monks took to the streets in Mandalay alone, the second largest city in Burma. In Rangoon, monks chanting the Metta Sutta, a prayer of kindess and compassion, marched to the home of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to honor the democracy leader. Daw Suu Kyi appeared before the monks and shed tears of gratitude.

Led by monks, the demonstrations multiplied and swelled in size over the next days. On September 24th, crowds filled the streets of more than 25 cities across Burma, with 100,000 peaceful marchers in Rangoon alone. The next day, machine-gun toting soldiers gathered ominously at intersections. Despite the backdrop of 8888 uprising when soldiers beat and gun down student protesters with no reservations, many local and international onlookers were convinced that the Saffron Revolution was different because of the concentration of Buddhist monks in the movement. Because Buddhism is the predominant religion in Burma, the role of monks is held in high reverence. And to touch or assault a monk, let alone kill, is considered one of the gravest sins any man can commit.

On the 26th of September, the landmark Shwedagon Pagoda was barricaded by troops, and a curfew was imposed by the military dictators. During the night, soldiers raided dozens of monasteries across Burma, beating and killing monks according to eyewitness accounts.

Unfazed by the night raids and the rumors of arrest, on the morning of September 27th, 50,000 courageous citizens gathered on the streets of Rangoon to demand freedom from fear. Soldiers opened fire on the crowds, killing at least nine unarmed protesters. One of these was Kenji Nagai, a Japanese journalist, whose murder was caught on video and beamed around the world.

With each passing hour, more monks were detained as more soldiers filled the streets. The Burmese junta shut down internet and cell phone service to stifle the flow of information to the outside world. Even so, accounts emerged of a crematorium burning day and night to destroy evidence of military brutality. A Burmese colonel defected after refusing an order to slaughter hundreds of monks.

Soldiers were deployed heavily on the streets of every city and on the premises of emptied monasteries. With the leaders of the movement, including hundreds of monks, civic activists and local residents detained, large-scale demonstrations ceased. Reports suggest that low-level resistance continued, including small demonstrations and imprisoned monks refusing food from their oppressors. The streets of Burma may have quiet down and the day-to-day hustle and bustle resumes, but the sense of dissatisfaction, alienation, and anger against the ruling junta never fade away.

After the Saffron Revolution

Immediately after the brutal crackdown of the military, hundreds of protests and vigils were organized around the world to honor the courage of those who participated in the biggest show of dissent in Burma since the demonstrations of 1988. People around the world continue to organize events every year to keep the spirit of the Saffron Revolution alive.

The Saffron Revolution inspired a new generation of activists, both inside and country and around the world, to speak out against the Burmese military regime. Unlike the 1988 demonstration, the availability and widespread use of technology enabled people inside Burma to send picture, videos and updates to those outside Burma. Thus, the international community was made aware of what was happening in Burma as the Saffron Revolution took place.

The regime’s persecution of the Buddhist clergy continues. In the first eight months of 2008, the SPDC arrested 17 monks and sentenced nine of them to prison terms. 196 monks remain detained in Burma’s prisons.

The Buddhist monks continued to play a vital role in welfare and disaster relief. They delivered much needed aid and provided accomodation for homeless cyclone Nargis survivos in Rangoon and throughout the Irrawaddy delta.

In October 2007, a group of prominent Burmese Buddhist monks established the International Burmese Monks Organization (IBMO). The organization aims to raise international awareness about Burma’s political struggles through the voices of the Buddhist clergy. By early 2008, the IBMO comprised over 300 members from 14 countries.

International Reaction

The United States, European Union, and Canada have imposed a number of sanctions on the junta, including a freeze on bank accounts and restrictions on imports of gems and timber.

The United States Department of the Treasury announced sanctions against 14 senior officials of Myanmar. Among those targeted for the sanctions are the junta leader, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, and Deputy Senior Gen. Maung Aye. The action by Treasury will freeze any assets that the individuals targeted have in U.S. banks or other financial institutions under U.S. jurisdiction. The order also prohibits any U.S. citizens from doing business with the designated individuals.

US, UK, EU, Canada, Czech Republic, Ireland, Sweden and the Philippines demanded that SPDC immediately release the protesters and engage in genuine dialogue with the pro-democracy movement and ethnic groups.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that the use of force to put down peaceful protests in Burma was “abhorrent and unacceptable”. He also urged the SPDC to release detainees and start a dialogue with political opponents. The UN Security Council issued a statement “strongly” deploring the SPDC’s repression of pro-democracy demonstrators and called for the early release of all political prisoners and remaining detainees. The statement was not blocked by China or Russia, who vetoed a UNSC resolution on Burma in January 2007.

China’s Ambassador to the UN, Wang Guangya, said that China wished to see stability, mutual reconciliation, and progress towards democracy in Burma. Premier Wen Jiabao confirmed China’s shift, and expressed hopes that stability, national reconciliation, and democracy will be achieved as soon as possible through peaceful means. The past five years of increased trade with China and increased Chinese investment in Burma have strengthened the junta’s income sources, and reduced any incentive for them to implement urgently-needed reforms.

ASEAN Foreign Ministers expressed their revulsion to SPDC FM Nyan Win over reports that demonstrations in Burma were being suppressed by violence.

Altsean-Burma has a lot of materials on their site- photo gallery, map of the protests, reports, etc. – Check it Out

VIDEOS:

Al Jazeera’s Tony Birtley went undercover in Myanmar to report exclusively on the people’s protests and resulting bloody crackdown by Myanmar’s military government, talking to the protesters, filming the bloody crackdown and gauging the mood of the nation

Burmese Monks demonstrating peacefully and chanting prayers. But the brutal military regime armed with tear gas and semi-automatic weapons start firing upon the monks and the crowd.

Burma VJ

The saffron revolution is the focus point of the Oscar-nominated documentary by Anders Østergaard released in 2009. The film follows the progress of the saffron revolution through the eyes of the video journalists working inside Burma. It is a powerful film that shows the danger that the monks, protesters and video journalists choose to face in order to make their voices heard around the world.

Timeline

15 August
Fuel prices rise by up to 500% without warning. Transportation costs double overnight. Prices for food and other essentials increase.

19 August
Prominent leaders of the ’88 Generation Student group of pro-democracy activists lead a public protest against price rises through the streets of Rangoon. The protest spread across the country.

21 August
On the eve of a major protest in Rangoon, the regime arrests 13 leading democracy activists in midnight raids.

22 August
Hundreds of protesters march through Rangoon but it is broken up by members of the pro-regime militia backed up by police. More activists were arrested.

28 August
Buddhist monks join a protest in the northwestern city of Sittwe. Police and USDA members break up pro-democracy protest in Rangoon, arresting dozens.

30 August
A group of detained pro-democracy protesters launches a hunger strike, demanding medical treatment for an injured protester.

3 September
The protest continues to grow. More than 1,000 people demonstrate in Labutta, Irrawaddy Division.

4 September
About 1,000 people led by 15 NLD members march in Taunggok, Arakan State, demanding the release of two men arrested on 31 August for demonstrating against the rise in fuel prices.

5 September
SPDC soldiers fired warning shots to break up a demonstration of about 500 monks in Pokokku, Magwe Division. Some of the monks are severely beaten and three are arrested.

6 September
A group of about 20 government officials are briefly held hostage by monks in Pakokku to secure the release of their three detained colleagues. The All Burma Monks Alliance give the regime a deadline of 17 September to respond to their demands, namely an apology for the crackdown on the peaceful demonstration in Pakokku, a cut in commodity prices, and the release of all political prisoners.

17 September
The deadline for an apology passes with no word from the generals. The demonstrations increase.

18 September
Buddhist monks hold series of protests in Rangoon and other cities throughout Burma on the anniversary of 1988 coup that brought current military regime to power. The monks say they will begin boycotting alms from members of the military regime and their associates. The demonstrations grow bigger by the day.

24 September
Up to 100,000 people march in Rangoon, making it the biggest anti-government protest since 1988. The rallies centre on the Shwedagon and Sule pagodas, and demonstrations take place in towns and cities across Burma.

25 September
Thousands of monks and supporters again gather in defiance of threats of a military crackdown. The regime imposes dusk-to-dawn curfew in Rangoon and Mandalay. Internet access is blocked.

26 September
The crackdown begins. Overnight troops raid monasteries containing thousands of monks and prevent other monks from leaving. Soldiers and riot police are deployed around monasteries in Rangoon and other cities. Other high-profile protesters are arrested. Tens of thousands still take to the streets. Several demonstrators are shot dead.

27 September
The Japanese video journalist, Kenji Nagai, is shot dead at close range, after security forces use automatic weapons on protesters in Rangoon. Tens of thousands of people join protests that continue throughout the day.

28 September
State media reports 9 deaths. Eyewitnesses reports suggest about 200 people were killed.

29 September
After several days of increasing web restrictions, the government cuts off internet access in Burma in an attempt to stop the flow of information.

30 September
UN special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, visits Burma and meets Aung San Suu Kyi.

2 October
Ganbari has a meeting with Senior General Than Shwe.

11 October
The United Nations Security Council issues its first ever formal statement on Burma urging the regime to release political prisoners, end the use of violence against civilians, and start a genuine dialogue.

15 October
The European Union agrees a ban on imports of Burmese timber, metals and gems. It also threatens a ban on all new investment if the regime does not enter into genuine dialogue with the democracy movement.

24 October
Aung San Suu Kyi reaches a total of 12 years in detention.

25 October
Aung San Suu Kyi holds talks with the regime’s newly appointed liaison officer, Aung Kyi, but no details of their discussion are made public.

31 October
About 200 monks demonstrate in Pakokku.

3 November
About 50 monks staged a demonstration in Mogok Township, Mandalay Division.

30 November
SPDC authorities in Mogok, Mandalay Division, stopped 300 monks when they attempted to march from their monastery to a pagoda.

9 December
Posters appeared in the streets of Pokokku, Magwe Division, urging monks to stage a new wave of protests on Burma’s Independence Day, January 4th.

11-15 December
A series of dhamma sermons were held in Rangoon’s South Okkalapa Township. About 1,000 people including some former soldiers attended the dhamma sermons which were increasingly regarded as an act of defiance against the junta. (On Febuarary 16th, the SPDC officials canceled the dhamma talks and ordered him to leave town.)

14 January
Abbot Nyanissara delivered a sermon in Sagaing Division that used allegories to tell his audienced that regimes have fallen before. He repeated the same message in a series of sermons around the country. Several of Nyanissara’s sermons were distributed on DVDs.

24 August
SPDC authorities atopped 40 monks when they attempted to march in the streets of Akyab in Arakan State.