Page "Buddhism in Burma" Paragraph 52

In September 2007, Buddhists again took to the streets in mass protest against the military government.

Thousand of junta military and police forces poured into Yangon to try to control the situation, which rapidly deteriorated.

A curfew was imposed and on the 25th of September troops surrounded Sule Pagoda.

The protest continued to grow with regular citizens joining to support and defend the Buddhists.

Over night junta forces invaded all the Buddhist monasteries in the country and imprisoned thousands of monks.

Also, it was reported that Nobel prize winning human rights activist and Buddhist Aung San Suu Kyi was removed from her home where she languished under house arrest and moved to the infamous Insein Prison.

Mass protests erupted over this and junta troops began firing on monks, civilians, and demonstrators in the largest clash since 1988, which left thousands injured and hundreds dead.

Images of the brutality were aired worldwide.

Leaders around the world condemned the junta's actions and many nations imposed economic sanctions on Burma in protest.

President of the United States George W. Bush addressed the United Nations, stating, " Every civilized nation has a responsibility to stand up for people suffering under a brutal military regime like the one that has ruled Burma for so long.

" The Burmese junta responded by trying to control media coverage, curtail travel, censor news stories, and shut down access to the Internet.