Current Situation in Burma

FBC-SA

Free Burma Campaign, South Africa

Protest Mount (in September 2007)

15 Aug (Wednesday): Junta doubles fuel prices, sparking protests.

5 Sept (Wednesday): Troops forcibly broke up a peaceful demonstration in Pakokku (a city of Burma) and injure several monks.

6 Sept (Thursday): Other monks later took government officials as hostages in retaliation. They demanded an apology by the deadline of September 17.

17 Sept (Monday): The junta's failure to apologise for the injuries draws fresh protests by monks.

18-21 Sept (Tuesday-Friday): Daily marches by monks in Burmese cities gradually gather in size

21 Sept (Friday): The UN Security Council had a close-door emergency meeting on Burma.

22 Sept (Saturday): 1,000 monks march to the home of Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon

23 Sept (Sunday): Up to 20,000 march in Rangoon

24 Sept (Monday): New Rangoon march draws at least 50,000 and 24 other towns join in

25 Sept (Tuesday): Military Regime imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the main cities Rangoon and Mandalay, which have seen escalating anti-government protests. Armed troops have now been deployed after tens of thousands of Buddhist monks and civilians again defied the army's warning to stay off the streets. World leaders at the UN General Assembly have condemned the situation.

26 Sept (Wednesday): Violence broke out at the Shwedagon Pagoda, Rangoon's holiest shrine, as police used baton charges and tear gas to try to stop monks embarking on a ninth day of protests. Troops barricaded Shwedagon Pagoda and attacked a group of 700 protesters with batons and tear gas. The police, beating their shields with batons, chased some of the monks and some 200 supporters, while others tried to remain in place near the eastern gate of the pagoda complex. Troops then sealed off the area around the pagoda, attempting to prevent the monks making further protests. This failed to stop the marches, with up to 5,000 monks progressing through Rangoon; some wearing masks in anticipation of tear gas being used. The UN Security Council held an emergency session on Burma and issued a statement of concern about the violent response to demonstrations in Rangoon.

27 Sept (Thursday): The junta security forces began raiding monasteries across the country to quell the protests, arresting at least 200 monks in Rangoon and 500 more in the northeast.

28 Sept (Friday): Protests continue in Rangoon amid ongoing crackdowns. Soldiers have used slingshots to disperse demonstrations in Rangoon, which have been less organised than on previous days. Many privately-owned weekly news journals in Burma have decided to stop publication in protest at official demands to publish pro-government propaganda.

29 Sept (Saturday): Tourists vanished from Burma; protests continued in Burma as the government tightened the screw; the military took control of the streets, fired tear gas and warning shots to scatter demonstrators who ventured out and sealed off Buddhist monasteries; Burma troops took over Buddhist Monasteries; Burma's military cut Internet connection; ASEAN urged Burma to stop crackdown; US stepped up confrontation with Burma Junta ; satellites confirm reports of Burma violence; UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari flew out of Singapore to Burma; Japan urged Burma to punish those who shot dead a Japanese journalist; Burma apologised for journalist's death; Japan lodged protest with Burma; China urged Burma to seek stability peacefully;