The mass demonstrations by Burmese monks and the general public grew still
further on Monday, joined by members of the opposition National League for
Democracy, popular celebrities and 50 successful candidates in the 1990
general election.

Despite warnings that the regime was preparing a military crackdown and a
visible presence of security forces, the demonstrations passed off
peacefully.

The largest turnout was again in Rangoon, where an estimated 100,000
demonstrators packed city streets. Most headed for the city’s two leading
religious sites, the Shwedagon Pagoda and the Sule Pagoda. Doctors, medics
and nurses were reported to be stationing themselves at Shwedagon Pagoda,
fearing bloodshed.

Crowds of demonstrators were reportedly planning to spend the night
outside Rangoon City Hall, the scene of great carnage in the 1988
uprising.

About 50 NLD members, including party spokesman Han Thar Myint, set out
from their Rangoon headquarters, brandishing the party flag.

Among the celebrities who joined the throngs were popular comedian
Zarganar, famous poet Aung Way and several actors. Many offered alms to
the monks at Shwedagon Pagoda.

Hundreds of thousands of monks and members of the public marched in Pegu,
Mandalay, Sagaing and Magwe, as well as in towns in Mon, Arakan and Kachin
states and Kawthaung in Tenasserim Division.

Monday’s turnout was the biggest since demonstrations began on August 19
in protest at a sharp rise in the prices of fuel and other commodities.
The demonstrations rapidly took on a political purpose, and the monks are
now openly calling for an end to the military regime.

The monks’ anger was fuelled by a brutal crackdown on a peaceful
demonstration by monks in Pakokku, Magwe Division, on September 5. The
monks demanded an official apology, and when that was not forthcoming they
implemented a boycott of members of the military regime and their
families.

Monks in Pakokku renewed their call for an apology on Sunday, backing it
with a demand for the regime to hand over power to the people.

As the demonstrations across the country continued to grow on Monday,
several high schools in Rangoon closed their doors. Government offices and
many private businesses reportedly closed as fears grew of a possible
confrontation between government forces and demonstrators.

Two women activists in hiding from the authorities, Nilar Thein and Htay
Kywe, called on Monday for members of the armed forces to join the
demonstrators. In phone interviews with The Irrawaddy, they thanked all
those who were taking part and said they welcomed the participation of
some of the country’s leading celebrities, university staff and students.

On Sunday night, Burmese authorities arrested Myo Myin Yu, a writer and
former political prisoner, according to Htun Myint Aung, a member of the
88 Generation Students group. He said another member of the group, Lay Lay
Mon, had been arrested last Wednesday.