09/26/2007 Update– All Eyes On Burma!

Dear Friends and Supporters.

The problems besetting Myanmar (Burma) are finally seeing some light of day by getting on the front pages of regional newspapers. Every Burma watcher has been delighted to see the mass demonstrations that are taking place being aired on CNN and BBC. Hopefully this time the international news media will keep the pictures and commentaries front and center! The timing of the present protests comes at a time when the world's leaders are at this very moment meeting at the U.N. in New York. Maybe, just maybe, this will put Burma's plight on their agenda.

From what we have learned, the protests were sparked by the military government's decision to increase fuel prices beyond the reach of its ordinary citizens. Local protesters in various places in Burma were beaten up by government hired thugs. When a group of monks tried to intervene in the town of Pakokgu, the monks were severely whipped, then tied to telephone poles and left to bake in the hot sun. When local villagers came to give them water, they were all arrested and carted off to jail. This is what sparked the nationwide reaction from the Buddhist monks. In response to the reaction from the monks, the military apologized for the rough treatment of the monks by releasing them. However, the authorities refused to release the townspeople who had come to help the monks. Apparently, the military's refusal to release the innocent townspeople forced the Buddhist monks to take to the streets.

At this point no one knows what the outcome to all this is going to be. The military is known for its brutality. It is hard to imagine that they will use force against the Buddhist monks, especially against so many of them now out on the streets. This may be the beginning of the end for the military regime. Let us hope so, and steadfastly lift the country up in fervent prayer. As far as we know, all the people we work with inside Burma are safe.