Pegu November Uprising

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Note: : Even though we received the informaiton early, we could not release it
at the early stage due to our technical problems -- compilation, editing and
translation. Therefore, it came out that late.
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On November 15th, 1998, the clash between monks and police turned into
political brake-out in Pegu. Students, workers and people joined the event and
the SPDC had to deploy massive troops in Pegu. 
Twenty monks who visited the fashion show were first stopped by the police as
they
cannot charge monks for the entrance fees. The monks were angry because
police treated them in a rude manner. The young monks could not tolerate the
situation and they started a fight against the
police after having collected about 200 monks from their monasteries. The
police
also fought back the monks. At that time, some other monks who were already
inside the People's Stadium joined the fight. They started shouting that
these kinds of shows are against Burmese culture and tradition.

Two policemen were seriously injured and died on the spot from their wounds.
The angry police called for the riot police (Lon Htein). Then the police
starting beating everybody includingwomen, children, students,
and workers.  Since Burmese people were suppressed by those kinds of armed
forces for a long time and suffered from general failure of the nation, their
discontent led them to response the suppression by chance. All the people in
and around the show launch the fight against police and riot police forces.
The
momentum of the fight increased immediately. At 9:30 p.m., the people,
students
and
monks had become the majority in fighting against the police. 

The clash between monks and police was tranformed into political uprising. The
monks and the people started cracking down the SPDC's propaganda signboards,
hanging nearby the
stadium. The automobile of the Pegu Division Police Chief, was also destroyed.

That same evening, 1000 monks from three major temples, where many monks have
been studying, marched into the streets and
joined with the crowd.

Since the police encountered failure to suppress the people in the atmosphere,
Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 107 reinforced the police to quell the crowd.
Well-equiped soldiers arrived at the scene and took position, mainly around
the
stadium. The monks, students and the people dispersed in order to avoid being
shot and arrested since SPDC troops were well-armed and took position in
different places in the town. 

The next day, even though the fashion show was cancelled, massive troops were
deployed in Pegu Township. However, on November 17-18th,  monks from different
monasteries discussed in order to co-ordinate some activities to show their
defiance agaisnt the existance of the troops. The monks were walking in groups
around the town as a defiance activities to the
troops positioned in the town. 

At 10:00 a.m., on November 19th, about 100 fake monks tried to promote racial
riots between Buddhists and Muslims. Those fake monks expressing themselves
that they were belonged to
the Monks' Union, suddenly appeared on the streets in Pegu. They went to
destroy the Muslim temple near the Pegu market at Mar Zin-1 street in order to
divert people's attention by causing a Buddhist-Muslim riot. The monks threw
bricks at the Muslim temple. If people had joined the monks, there would have
been a religious
conflict right away. However, the people noticed that there were no monks
from their own townships, whom they know, and also no students and other
people
supporting these monks.

Despite the attempt by these monks to instigate a conflict by saying such
things
as "Burmese women have been defiled by the Muslims, Buddhism is being
destroyed by the Muslims," they failed to attract other
people. Muslim people were encouraged when they learnt that these monks were
fake. Since these fake monks noticed that nobody joined them, they ran away to
avoid
being beaten by the people who had realized that they were not real monks. 

Then, understanding and agreements were reached among the monks who visited
the
scene. The Muslims, the students and other people were told to be cautious
with
fake SPDC monks. Now, people have become much more aware of the junta's
tactics
and they do not support the destroying of mosques or any other religious
conflict. Among the monks, an agreement was
reached that if one monk from any temple was injured by the junta, they will
respond against the authorities collectively. 

The Commander of Pegu Division has issued an order forbidding monks to go out
except in the morning to receive alms, and no guest monks are allowed to
sleep in the different monasteries. If the monks want to travel, they have to
seek permission from the SPDC authorities. Monks are frustrated with this
rule, and with the rude way the authorities treat them. 

Even though, the uprising was tentatively calm down, students, workers and
monks were able to establish coordiantions against the regime's suppression.
Pamphlets from activists are spreaded around Pegu. On the other hand, since
the
LIB 107 is a regional batallion, its grass root has considerable familiarity
with people. In additon, the rank and files are facing economic hardship --
many wives of grass-root soldiers have to earn as vendors in the markets. The
wives are wearing even military uniforms because they can not affort to buy
clothes. Weekly discussion sessions in which individuals presented their
problems, have been cancelled out in the battalion. The result is the
continous
desertations in the unit frequently.