Mahatma Gandhi

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”
Hundreds of Buddhist monks are staging demonstrations throughout central Burma to protest the military government and it’s policies. The gathered in a town called Kyaukpaduang and marched through the streets chanting prayers. They were protesting the rising cost of fuel as gasoline and diesel prices have doubled and natural gas prices have increaased five times the normal price. The monks also threatened more protests starting tomorrow if the government refuses to apologize because the government turned the military on the monks in previous demonstrations that led to the monks being beaten. The Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks urged it’s followers to boycot the government and refuses to take alms from anyone connected with the military. In 1988 a similar protest by the monks led to a public uprising against the military government.
The Buddhist monks in Burma are doing what they percieve as right even though they may be worse off in the short run. A majority of Buddhist monasteries support themselves off the kindness of others. A lot of their food is donated as alms from caring people and they limit their intake by boycotting anyone associated with the military. There is no need for the Burmese government to attack these peaceful monks who are only trying to help people. They show great courage, power and spirit in doing the right thing and challenging those who would take advantage of others.