And here I thought “angry Buddhist monks” was an oxymoron
The Financial Times’ Amy Kazmin and Andrew Ward report that Myanmar’s regime is so bad that they’ve actually managed to make Budshist monks angry. Apparently, you wouldn’t like them when they’re angry: Burma?s military regime fulminated on Friday against ?external anti-government groups? which it claimed were trying to foment a mass uprising in Burma, and ...
The Financial Times' Amy Kazmin and Andrew Ward report that Myanmar's regime is so bad that they've actually managed to make Budshist monks angry. Apparently, you wouldn't like them when they're angry: Burma?s military regime fulminated on Friday against ?external anti-government groups? which it claimed were trying to foment a mass uprising in Burma, and warned that it remains determined to crush open displays of dissent.... The regime?s outburst came amid persistent high tensions in the town of Pokkoku, a centre of Buddhist learning, where angry Buddhist monks have clashed with government authorities and pro-regime supporters in recent days.... Burma?s ruling generals are on edge after a rare wave of small but persistent protests against a sudden sharp increase in the price of rationed fuel, which has exacerbated the hardships of the impoverished population. Initially, the regime relied mainly on its civilian militias ? with frightening names like Swan-aah Shin, or ?Masters of Force? ? to help police and other security forces to haul off demonstrators, and snuff out protests and marches almost as soon as they began. But tensions have intensified since Wednesday night when soldiers in Pokkoku fired warning shots over the heads of hundreds of protesting monks, who complained of being manhandled, and tied to electricity poles. On Thursday, monks infuriated at the harsh treatment held a dozen government officials captive in a tense standoff, and burned four official cars, before freeing the group unharmed a few hours later. However, later monks and town residents destroyed an electronics shop and a home that belong to members of the regime?s Union Solidarity and Development Organisation, reflecting the strength of public anger towards any one seen as linked to the regime. More than 100 people have been arrested by the regime in an attempt to quell the protests.
The Financial Times’ Amy Kazmin and Andrew Ward report that Myanmar’s regime is so bad that they’ve actually managed to make Budshist monks angry. Apparently, you wouldn’t like them when they’re angry:
Burma?s military regime fulminated on Friday against ?external anti-government groups? which it claimed were trying to foment a mass uprising in Burma, and warned that it remains determined to crush open displays of dissent…. The regime?s outburst came amid persistent high tensions in the town of Pokkoku, a centre of Buddhist learning, where angry Buddhist monks have clashed with government authorities and pro-regime supporters in recent days…. Burma?s ruling generals are on edge after a rare wave of small but persistent protests against a sudden sharp increase in the price of rationed fuel, which has exacerbated the hardships of the impoverished population. Initially, the regime relied mainly on its civilian militias ? with frightening names like Swan-aah Shin, or ?Masters of Force? ? to help police and other security forces to haul off demonstrators, and snuff out protests and marches almost as soon as they began. But tensions have intensified since Wednesday night when soldiers in Pokkoku fired warning shots over the heads of hundreds of protesting monks, who complained of being manhandled, and tied to electricity poles. On Thursday, monks infuriated at the harsh treatment held a dozen government officials captive in a tense standoff, and burned four official cars, before freeing the group unharmed a few hours later. However, later monks and town residents destroyed an electronics shop and a home that belong to members of the regime?s Union Solidarity and Development Organisation, reflecting the strength of public anger towards any one seen as linked to the regime. More than 100 people have been arrested by the regime in an attempt to quell the protests.
Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner
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