Buddhist Monks' Uprising in Myanmar

Myanmar is in utter turmoil over the protest led by Buddhist monks and civilians in Yangon against the oppressive regime of its military government. It was heartening to read from newspaper reports that it was these monks — along with locals — totaling about 1 million, who took to the streets in their longstanding struggle for democratic rights against the junta regime of Myanmar.

The armed police had allowed about 2,000 protesters compromising monks and civilians to hold prayers outside the home of democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate who has been under house arrest for more than a decade, had come out of her home to greet the protesters.

This protest since then has snowballed into a larger one, so far unseen in the long history of 20 years of democratic struggle against the military rule. Brigadier General Thura Myint Maung, reacting officially had warned the protesting Monks not to go against the rules and regulations as laid down by Buddhist teaching and would take strict action under the law.

In order to quell the mass protest the security forces resorted to firing and so far it is reported that five monks were killed. About 300 monks have been taken under custody. The junta had banned all public gathering and imposed night curfew. This mass uprising of pro-democracy is seen as the strongest against military force and as expected this brutal regime would spare no effort in suppressing it even if there is bloodshed and more number of innocent protesters get killed.

India, being a neighboring country, has been a huge disappointment in its response. More often than not it is seen by other Asian countries as a big brother — meddling in others' internal affairs. Yet strangely India has chosen to remain a mute spectator of events in Myanmar.

In fact India's external affair minister Pranab Mukerjee has gone on record saying that whatever is happening in Myanmar is an internal matter and India will not interfere in its neighbor's domestic affairs. It is noteworthy to mention that the Indian government owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation has signed a gas deal worth $75 million with Myanmar this week and moreover India is seeking the help of the Burmese army to tackle insurgency on its northeastern border. That perhaps explains the non-interference stand taken by the Indian Government to protect its own economic and strategic interest in that region.

India being a large democratic nation cannot absolve itself of the responsibility of supporting democratic values and turn a Nelson eye to the people's democratic struggle in neighboring Myanmar. It is expected of India that it will play a more pro-active role in bringing a semblance of democracy in Myanmar. India must bring pressure on the junta regime to immediately stop committing atrocities on the peaceful protesters and instead hold with dialogue them.

India and the world leaders at this time must capitalize on this mass uprising and make an all out effort to first see the release of Aung San Suu Kyi who has seen enough of suffering under this repressive junta and ultimately introduce democracy in Myanmar.

The British and American governments have condemned the junta regime and have called for fresh economic and diplomatic sanctions against Myanmar. How far it would have any bearing on the junta remains to be seen but one prays that the latest protest will ultimately see the end of this regime and the triumph of democracy in Myanmar.