The year when the people of Burma again lost patience with their military rulers

Without them, the people of Burma wouldn’t have achieved the present political momentum which seems to be building toward a chance of democratic reforms. Without them, the pro-democracy movement wouldn’t have achieved the current international pressure that’s pushing the ruling junta to engage in a dialogue with the opposition. Without them, there would be no hope for a better future in 2008.

Who are they? They are the freedom-loving, compassionate monks, the pro-democracy activists, and the protesters, all of whom bravely joined demonstrations in August and September.

Their efforts and sacrifices have given Burma a real chance to take a few steps forward on the long road to democracy.

The September demonstrations were led by a small band of anonymous monks.

The Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks put the revolution on the right track, calling for basic political and economic rights, national reconciliation, the release of all political prisoners and an improvement in the living standards of the people.

The alliance issued several statements that served as guidelines for behavior, before and during the demonstrations. The alliance’s true leadership remains a mystery, but four monks were being sought by authorities. One of the four, U Gambira, was arrested in November, while the others remain in hiding.

The key to the mass demonstrations was a series of earlier small demonstrations in August led by members of the 88 Generation Students group, that brave band of seasoned freedom fighters.

Without their early efforts, the civil uprising may not have occurred.

Since 1988, they have devoted their lives to achieving democracy and their small demonstrations kicked off the peaceful marches, organized in protest against the junta’s sharp increases in fuel prices. Thirteen leading members of the group, including Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi, were swiftly arrested and are still being detained in the notorious Insein Prison.

Leaders of the student group who escaped arrest continued to play a leading role while in hiding. For example, Htay Kywe and Mie Mie, kept organizing and talking to the media—until they were arrested in their hiding places in October. Others, such as Nilar Thein, Tun Myint Aung and Soe Tun, continue to work while in hiding. The 88 Generation Students group has posed the greatest threat to the powerful junta.

The National League for Democracy leadership, decimated by the junta, was unable to play a significant role in the demonstrations. However, its rank-and-file members across the country came into their own, playing a major role in demonstrations, supporting the monks and carrying on the fight in their towns.

Among the NLD members who played major roles in Rangoon, Su Su Nway, HIV/AIDS activist Phyu Phyu Thin and Naw Ohn Hla stood out. Su Su Nway was arrested in November while she was trying to paste an anti-government message on a billboard during the visit of the UN special rapporteur on human rights. Phyu Phyu Thin still works with the movement and her HIV/AIDs patients from her hiding place. An estimated 200 NLD members across the country were arrested during the demonstrations.

Some ethnic leaders also played prominent roles in the demonstrations, including Cin Sian Thang of the Zomi National Congress and Thawng Kho Thang of the United Nationalities League for Democracy, who were detained for weeks.

A large crowd of Burmese pro-democracy supporters applaud during a rally, one of hundreds held across the country in September [Photo: Thierry Falise/The Irrawaddy]

Protesters received important support from social workers and celebrities, all of whom helped to energize the public consciousness and send people out into the streets in support of the monks. 

Among the celebrities, the prominent comedians Zarganar and Par Par Lay again stood out by offering support to the monks and demonstrators. Both were detained for more than one month.

Compared to the 1988 nationwide uprising when about 3,000 demonstrators were killed, the September demonstrations were small. But their worldwide impact was enormous, because of the Burmese people’s use of media technology.

The world’s largest media corporations, CNN, the BBC and Al Jazeera, in effect, linked up to citizen reporters, many of whom passed along information while taking part in demonstrations.