2007: The Year in Review
covering burma and southeast asia
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2007: The Year in Review


By The Irrawaddy DECEMBER, 2007 - VOLUME 15 NO.12


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20—On the third day of protests, about 1,000 Buddhist monks march peacefully through Rangoon, carrying religious flags, with one monk carrying his alms bowl upside-down as a symbol of not accepting alms from the military government or its supporters. Hundreds of students and young people protect the monks by joining hands to form a human chain.

Aung San Suu Kyi appears at the entrance of her compound to greet protesting monks in September
22—Security forces, bearing riot shields, line up in front of monks who are chanting the “Metta Sutta” at Aung San Suu Kyi’s lakeside home on Rangoon’s University Avenue. She comes to her gate and talks briefly with one leading monk.

In Mandalay, about 10,000 monks march through the city in the largest anti-junta protest to date.

24—Tens of thousands of monks and laypeople march in Pegu, Mandalay, Sagaing, Magwe and Kawthaung in Tenasserim Division, as well as in towns in Mon, Arakan and Kachin states.

26—Burmese security forces fire directly at protesting monks and other demonstrators in Rangoon, reportedly killing five monks and one woman in separate clashes.

27—Troops and riot police use a vehicle to break down the main gate of Ngwe Kyar Yan monastery. Shots are fired and tear gas used in rounding up about 150 of the monastery’s monks. Soldiers also raid Maggin and Mogaung monasteries and arrest monks.

A 50-year-old Japanese journalist, Kenji Nagai, is shot by security forces. Witnesses report that several other people are killed in the protests.

28—The flow of Internet information out of Burma is cut off, in response to the flood of photographs, videos, news reports and e-mails sent out of the country to the international media and the rest of the world by Burmese citizens.

30—The UN special envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, holds a meeting with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in an attempt to find a peaceful solution to the crisis. Gambari later meets with the junta’s head, Snr-Gen Than Shwe, and other top generals in Naypyidaw.

• OCTOBER

04—Snr-Gen Than Shwe announces that he will meet with Aung San Suu Kyi, if she agrees to preconditions: discontinue confrontation with the government, stop devastating the economy and cease promoting economic sanctions.

07—A shot is fired at the Chinese consulate in Mandalay, an indication of many Burmese people’s annoyance with the Chinese community. No injuries are reported. China is targeted in demonstrations because of its support for the Burmese military regime.

US President George W Bush
[Photo: AFP]
14—The state funeral of the late prime minister, Gen Soe Win, 59, who died on October 12, is held at Mingaladon Defence Services General Hospital.

19—President George W Bush expands US sanctions against Burma’s rulers, adding 11 more Burmese military leaders and 12 business cronies to a list already facing sanctions.

24—Acting prime minister Lt-Gen Thein Sein, secretary-1 of the Burmese junta, is appointed premier and Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, a hard-liner, is appointed secretary-1.

25—The Burmese government’s minister for relations, ex Maj-Gen Aung Kyi, meets Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the NLD, at Seinle Kantha Guest House in Rangoon.

Air Bagan Ltd announces it will suspend flights to Singapore from November 4, after owner Tay Za and his companies are targeted by the new US sanctions on key supporters of the military regime.



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