Chronology of protests in Burma leading up to a bloody crackdown


2007.09.26

A month of protests in Burma: Click on the map and highlight an area to view the chronology of events there.

Confronted with rising global fuel prices, Burmese authorities drastically cut diesel subsidies on August 15, 2007.

As a consequence the price of diesel doubled overnight and the price of compressed natural gas rose almost fivefold causing considerable distress among ordinary people.

Inflation jumped into double figures and small protests broke out.

By early September, the protests had spread and security was tightened:

BAGO: - Sept. 2: Authorities tighten security - Sept. 18: Monks protest - Sept. 24: Citizens offer food to protesting monks

MANDALAY: - Sept. 2: Authorities tighten security. Eyewitnesses report demonstrations, which the junta denies. - Sept. 18: Monks protest - Sept. 19: Some 1,000 monks march to Maha Myat Muni Pagoda. - Sept. 22: An estimated 10,000 monks march through city streets. - Sept. 23: Monks protest. - Sept. 24: Citizens offer food to protesting monks

PAKOKKU: - Sept. 3: Marches begin - Sept. 6: Monks take 13 officials hostage - Sept. 7: A leading monks' organization seeks an apology from the government - Sept. 9: Monks announce the formation of a new All Burma Monks' Alliance

RANGOON: - Sept.3: Rangoon monks march in Bohtataung township. - Sept. 18: Monks protest - Sept. 19: Some 500 monks barred from marching to Shwedagon Pagoda - Sept. 20: Hundreds of monks march around Shwedagon Pagoda. - Sept 21: Some 1,500 monks protest - Sept. 22: Some 2,000 monks march past police to Aung San Suu Kyi's University Avenue compound - Sept. 23: Between 10,000 and 20,000 march to Shwedagon Pagoda - Sept. 24: Up to 100,000 people including some 20,000 monks march in the largest protest in almost 20 years

TAUNG GOKE: - Sept. 4: Some 3,000 residents gather, while a housewives' organization asks for the release of detainees

MYINGYAN: - Sept. 16: Monks begin their boycott

CHAUK: - Sept. 16: Monks stage a protest march

KYAUKPADAUNG: - Sept. 17: More than 400 monks march - Sept. 18: Monks protest

SITTWE: - Sept. 18: Some 1,000 monks protest - Sept. 19: Some 5,000 monks return to the streets - Sept. 22: Monks protest - Sept. 24: Citizens offer food to protesting monks

AUNG LAN: - Sept. 18: Monks protest

MAGWE: - Sept. 18: Monks protest

THANDWE: - Sept. 22: Monks protest

MONYAR: - Sept. 23: Monks protest

MYITKYINA: - Sept. 23: Monks protest

LETPANDAN: - Sept. 22: Monks protest

TAUNGDWINGYI - Sept. 22: Monks protest

YENANCHAUNG - Sept. 22: Monks protest

BHAMO: - Sept. 22: Monks protest - Sept. 24: Citizens offer food to protesting monks

By the end of the month the protests had taken another dimension and challenged directly the military rule in Burma.

The military then decided to suppress them by force and launched a violent crackdown.

On September 28, Internet access was cut off in an attempt to stop the flow of violent images documenting a roughless repression.

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