Monks, Media, and the Military: The Protests in Burma

In August a wave of peaceful, pro-democracy demonstrations broke out in Burma. After the military government began using force to crack down on protesters, their numbers swelled into the tens of thousands. Dozens have since been killed and thousands arrested.

The Open Society Institute and Asia Society hosted a program at Asia Society on the current situation in Burma. The event featured activists—including the leader of the Burmese monks, speaking via teleconference—who provided eyewitness reports on the crisis and called for increased international pressure on the Burmese government.

Speakers

• Prof. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar;
• Ashin Nayaka, Founding Director, Buddhist Missionary Society in New York;
• Ashin Cando Bhasacara, Burma American Metta Buddhist Association;
• Aung Din, US Campaign for Burma and former political prisoner;
• Nay Tin Myint (via teleconference), National League for Democracy Youth leader and political prisoner (released in 2005);
• Patrick Shank, Human Rights Education Institute of Burma, who just returned from Burma last weekend;
• "U Gambira" (via teleconference) leader of the monks in Burma;
• Maureen Aung-Thwin, Director, Burma Project/Southeast Asia Initiative, Open Society Institute (moderator);
• Suzanne DiMaggio, Director, Asian Social Issues Program/Asia Society, (introducing the event).

Video

View excerpts from the event, with recent footage and photos from the protests in Burma.