A Year After Protests, Burma's Military Remains Firmly in Control

September 24, 2008

Author: Ron Corben

Source: VOA News

http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-09-24-voa36.cfm

A year after Burma's military crushed protests led by Buddhist monks, human rights groups accuse the government of continuing to harass of the clergy. As Ron Corben reports from Bangkok, experts on Burma see little sign of change in the country, despite the recent release of thousands of prisoners.

A year ago this week thousands of Buddhist monks left their temples in Burma and led massive demonstrations against the military's mismanagement of the economy.

This monk, at a demonstration last year, calls for a countrywide protest, and urges people go to the revered Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon.

The protests began after the military dramatically raised fuel prices, which hit people hard in one of the world's poorest nations.

They culminated with up to 100,000 people marching through Rangoon on September 24.

Protesters call on the government to end the hardships the people face