What is going on in Myanmar?

Question

I've been buisy following the Iraqi and Iranian sitautions in addition to some other world issues in south america and I want to be caught up to speed as to what the furror is about in Myanmar right now?

Answer 1

After WW2 Myanmar which had been taken by the Japanese, became independent. A democratic republic was established. This lasted until 1962 when a military coup resulted in a hardline military government that remained in power - by violently suppressing any dissent - until 1988.
In 1988 a people's uprising resulted in the military slaughtering hundreds if not thousands of demonstrators.
Another faction of the military took control of the country and formed the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC).
SLORC declared martial law but promised to work towards democracy and in 1990 free elections were held.
Aung San Suu Kyi led the National League for Democracy to a landslide victory. SLORC refused to give up control of the country and redeclared martial law, annulling the results of the election. Aung was arrested and placed under house arrest. She was released in 1995 but prevented from meeting with any political allies - or even with her husband who was dying of cancer.
In 2000 Aung was placed under house arrest again. In 2002 she was released and given permission to move freely around the country. However the following year her convoy was attacked by government troops and her supporters massacred. Aung fled but was arrested and placed under house arrest again.
Despite promises from SLORC to move towards democracy no progress has been made.
Earlier this year Aung's term of house arrest was due to expire (again) but as previsously the government arbitrarily extended it.
Recently buddhist monks started holding protests against the military junta. These grew to more than 100,000 people on the streets of Yangon openly defying the government. The government has initiated a curfew, confined many of the monks in monastery's and arrested pro democracy leaders.

Answer 2

What you're seeing in Myanmar is hopefully regime-change the right way as opposed to wrong way. It is better that if democracy is to spread, that the impetus come from within the state rather than impose from outside. Otherwise, the new regime gets tarred (as the restored French monarchy did in 1914/5) with the brush of coming "in the baggage-train of the foreigners" and risks being seen as a foreign-puppet. Arguably the inability of the Iraqi govt to expel Blackwater shows that indeed the 'sovereign' Iraqi govt is a US puppet.

Answer 3

There is a military regime in power that refused to accept the results of the last election (approximately a decade ago). The person who won that election has been under house arrest ever since (and has won a Nobel Peace Prize). There is currently a mostly peaceful protest by Buddhist Monks (and yes peaceful religious people can protest) seeking the end of the military dictatorship and the restoration of democracy.

Answer 4

It appears as if the Buddhist monks are attempting to start a "soft"revolution and bring democracy and human rights to their people.

They have been peacefully protesting with the support of tens of thousands of their countrymen.

Answer 5

Monks are protesting the repressive government to release political prisoners. However, their acts are ignored but being drum up in the international scene.

Answer 6

Their government has not accepted US slavery like other third world countries that is why US is putting sanctions and inciting the monks to overthrow the goverment.

Answer 7

Real monks would not care or get involved with these humanly activities; their main activity is to observe the world impassionatly.