CULTURE

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The authorities maintained that the monks who led the demonstrations were bogus clergy, and even accused the US Central Intelligence Agency of involvement.

Monks were among those killed by what another UN envoy, human rights rapporteur Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, has described as the regime’s “excessive use of force.” Others just disappeared, their whereabouts unknown; Hundreds were jailed and many are still behind bars.

The bitterness at this satanic abuse of the Buddhist clergy lingers on among the general public and within the monasteries. It was most recently evident in the response to an appeal to boycott the annual state-set examinations for the clergy, which resulted in only 10 percent of the usual number of monks registering.

The low turnout prompted many to ask: “Where are all the monks? Where have they gone?”

The US charge d’affaires in Burma, Shari Villarosa, said that when diplomats put that question to the authorities they were told the monks had “returned home.” Western diplomats remain deeply skeptical. “We believe a considerable number have been arrested,” said Villarosa.