Spontaneous demonstration in Rangoon, biggest in decade in Burma

Indian Time - 4:50 p.m - Veteran Burmese politician U Win Naing and Myanmar Development Committee members led over 400 protestors, beginning from Hledan traffic point, on a march to Sule pagoda in downtown Rangoon today. However, at 4:00 p.m. local time, the demonstration was called-off for the day.

“The situation is that, it is starting to rain and is getting dark, so at about 4:00 p.m we dispersed. Some people have begun to move out and we are also going back home now,” said the self-styled nationalist, U Win Naing.

At least 100 people have been arrested in different locations in Rangoon by the authorities today.

3:45 p.m - While the military junta has not used the army to crackdown on peaceful demonstrators, as was done in the 1988 uprising, the junta has effectively deployed its stooges, the USDA and Saw Arrshin, who claim to represent the people of Burma.

Wednesday’s public protest in Rangoon was mainly subject to crackdown by the two junta-backed Burmese civil society organizations – USDA and Swan Arrshin – who violently attacked protestors, arresting them and forcing them to disperse. Included among the several arrested are Naw Ohn Hla, Ma Yin Yin Myat, Ma Cho Cho Lwin, Ma San San Myint, Daw Kyin Yi, Than Zaw Myint and Ma Htet Htet Oo.

Interview with Daw Tin Yee (one of the protestors)

“I did not see any weapons that the Union Solidarity and Development Association and Swan Arrshin are using but, what I saw and experienced was that they used their fists and we were pulled and pushed onto the trucks. They used abusive language, and snatched cameras. And when they did that the people started telling them not to act that way. But they forced the people to get on the vehicles.

Among the many injured were two Monks and a small boy, the boy being hit so badly that blood streamed down him. Then Ma Nilar Than [wife of 88 generation student Jimmy] said we should disperse as things were getting worse, so we caught any vehicle and left the place.

The people were brutally beaten and their [USDA and Swan Arrshin] actions were inhumane. They called themselves the ‘people’ and did whatever they wanted. The people on our side were angry with them and told them that they do not represent the people. Then these people again forced us to disperse by pulling and pushing. I was also pulled by them and from my side they pulled me again, so my arms were really badly hurt.

Among those that blocked us and violently beat us, there were people who I had seen several times in front of our office [NLD office] and those taking camera records when we used to go to pagodas for prayers.

Civilians and the people applauded us and welcomed our movement, and therefore, we have faith in the people. We won’t let the people down; we will continue what we have started as we know the expectations of the people. We will continue with our peaceful demonstration.”

2:56 - Authorities have enacted tight security. Two army trucks have been positioned near Sule Pagoda, in downtown Rangoon, beside Rangoon City Hall. According to observers, the junta seems to be ready for a vioent crackdown on protestors.

“They are preparing batons to beat us with, and at every junction there are many pro-government groups, they are prepared to attack [protestors],” a Rangoon resident told Mizzima.

2:55 - Demonstration continued in and around the Suule Pagoda and Shwegonedaing junctions, Hlaing and Hantharwaddy circles.

1:56 p.m - With protestors originating from several parts of Rangoon, from outlying areas to downtown, sources say the government is considering imposing a curfew in a bid to effectively control the demonstrations.

12:47 p.m - Su Su Nway – “Special Branch Police have arrived at our location and I may not be able to give anymore information if I am arrested”. Su Su Nway has not been participating in the protest this morning. She said she was unable to go out as the Special Branch has been waiting for her to leave her residence.

12:40 p.m - About 300 protestors marching through the Oat Kyin traffic point were confronted by over 400 Swan Arrshin and USDA members and subsequently attacked and forced onto lorry trucks. During the attack at least seven protestors, including two monks, were severely injured. And several protestors, including Naw Ohn Hla, Ma Yin Yin Mya, Ma Cho Lwin, Ma San San Myint, Than Zaw Myint and Ma Htet Htet Oo, were arrested, a protestor told Mizzima.

“They told us to disperse and tried to load us onto buses. They threatened us, saying that if we don’t disperse, they will use more violence,” said a student protestor.

Protestors said junta-backed thugs turned violent and began severely beating the protestors.

“I had to flee for my live,” a protestor who fled the brutal attack told Mizzima.

12:15 p.m - A Rangoon protestor has sent an email message to Mizzima, saying: “This is the Hledan to Insein group. A mass of more than 500 have reached Hlaing Yadana market. A lady leader who wore a ‘Pinni’ spoke to the audience. Most of the people encouraged her. But on the other side there were soldiers with two lorry trucks and civilian thugs, who get about 3000 kyat per day as members of groups such as Kyant Phut (USDA) & Swan Arrshin (peoples’ militia). They commanded the people to go back home. My informer says she has seen a lot of people and thugs, hired with money, on the Yangon-Insein Road.”

12:05 p.m - U Win Naing and his group reached downtown Rangoon near Sule Pagoda, while the rest are still marching toward downtown. “Our group has reached near Sule, everything is fine so far but we are not able to start anything much in downtown yet,” U Win Naing told Mizzima.

11:9 a.m - National League for Democracy, Burma’s main opposition party, NLD leaders joining in the demonstration at Hledan.

11:00 a.m - Veteran Burmese politician U Win Naing led over 300 protestors in a march from eight-mile junction to Heldan traffic point, where they joined other protesters.

10:50 a.m - “This morning, when I went out to eat some breakfast, I saw a group of people demonstrating and when I discovered their demands I realized that it was what we the people of Burma need, so I joined them. I am from Hlaing Township.” – Ko Sithu, a bystander and university student with an economics major who joined the demonstration, in a telephone interview with Mizzima.

New Delhi: In what is turning out to be the biggest public demonstration in Burma in a decade, over 500 people in Rangoon on Wednesday began a protest march venting the people’s grievance against the government’s massive fuel price increase.

Though authorities last night arrested 13 key student leaders, the demonstrations were organised at various locations in Rangoon – Insein, Myay Ni Gone, and Hledan - at about 10 a.m. (local time). The agitators have joined hands to form a larger group in Hledan and marched along the streets towards Thamine traffic point.

“We are now moving back to Hledan and we will head downtown, where we expect to join forces with other demonstrators,” a protester told Mizzima over telephone.

A number of other demonstrations were staged in other parts of Rangoon including South Dagon and San Pya bazaar, he added.

Mizzima was able to procure a live recording of one protester who spoke to the people at the demonstration saying, “The government has raised fuel prices without giving any prior notice, and due to this hike, all the people are suffering. Therefore, we, the 88 generation students, NLD members, University students, high school students and civilians are protesting and demanding an immediate roll back in the prices of fuel.”

While no particular individuals are spearheading the protest, the demonstration has been joined by prominent activists including Naw Ohn Hla, 88 generation student leader Ko Jimmy’s wife Nilar Thein, and veteran politician Amyotharyee U Win Naing.

Nearly half of the demonstrators are women wearing the traditional Burmese Pinni — white shirt and plain clothes.