Myanmar Protests Weaken After Crackdown
Posted September 29, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Soldiers in Myanmar ran across rain-soaked streets Saturday, seizing control after days of angry protests by pro-democracy demonstrators. Troops are stationed on almost every corner in the country’s two largest cities Naypyidaw, the capital, and Yangon.
In other parts of the world, marchers shouting “democracy now” braved the rain in Brussels Saturday to give their support to the people of Myanmar. They held yellow roses, the colour symbolizing the South Asian country’s movement of democracy.
Despite grey skies in Germany, crowds gathered outside the Chinese embassy in Berlin. They want the communist country to take a more active role in pushing for a peaceful resolution.
In Thailand, songs of peace played at a candlelight vigil as Buddhists, Christians, Hindus and Muslims joined hands to pray.
But it was a different scene in New Delhi where students wearing red headbands and carrying banners marched through the Indian capital calling for an end to the military crackdown. They’re calling on the Indian government to step in. India shares a border on its east with Myanmar and is one of its main trading partners.
Meanwhile, angry activists in New York protested against the violence. About 100 people, most of them exiled Burmese, rallied outside the United Nations headquarters urging China to put pressure on the country.
UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari is heading to Myanmar, hoping to convince the military junta to end its brutal crackdown and start a dialogue with the opposition.
This is the biggest anti-government demonstration Myanmar has seen in 45 years.
