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Pro-democracy movement in Burma, 1988-90

Pro-democracy movement in Burma, 1988-90. ( Schwedagon Pagoda in background). Discussion questions. In Burma, what were the main strategies of protest deployed against the regime in 1988? What was the role of Buddhist monks in Burma?  

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Pro-democracy movement in Burma, 1988-90

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  1. Pro-democracy movement in Burma, 1988-90 (Schwedagon Pagoda in background)

  2. Discussion questions • In Burma, what were the main strategies of protest deployed against the regime in 1988? • What was the role of Buddhist monks in Burma?   • Why was the military junta in Burma able to ignore the adverse election results of 1990 with impunity? • To what extent was the fact that both of these movements were student-led a weakness? • Does the examples of Burma reveal certain limits to theorizations by Gene Sharp and others about the efficacy of nonviolent resistance?

  3. Background British Burma, 1824-1948 General Aung San, 1947 General Ne Win, ruled from 1962-88 in charge under various titles

  4. Events • Demonetisation of currency , 5th September 1987 • Annoyed students and farmers • Designated as LEDC by UN in 1987 • July 1987, AungGyi’s Letter to Ne Win • Student protests in Rangoon, Universities closed. • Student killed in bar by BSPP administrators son, who was later acquitted, 12th March 1988 • Protests,. Signs of dissent in the army. • 15th March 1988 ‘White Bridge’ Massacre • July 23 1988, Ne Win resigns • July 26 1988, General SeinLwin in power • 08/08/88 General strike and mass demonstrations • Protests increased until his resignation, August 26 1988 • Dr MaungMaung was leader inbetween • September 8th General strike • Army staged coup in September 18 1988, SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration Council) • 27 May 1990, free and fair elections, won by NLD • Said it must first write a new constitution, which may take up to two years,. Elections never consummated

  5. Aung San SuuKyi • Daughter of General Aung San • Wore the ethnic dress of wherever she visited • Inspiration to many • Married to a British man (xenophobia) • Military tired to claim she would break up the army • Called of demonstrations fearing that people would get hurt • Arrested for being a communist

  6. Monks • Key in creating dissent within the army • Refused alms • (Led) Marches • Presence seen as crucial in stopping the crowd reacting violently • Revered, Thus shocking when they were beaten • Junta’s moral authority rested on the support and propagation of Buddhism • Close since the sanghaconference of 1980

  7. Students Traditionally been at the head of political consciousness in Burma (Union demolished in July 1962) Aung San himself was a student leader Was the general strike which threatened the government, not the student movement

  8. Army • Signs of dissent within the army (difficult to verify) • Publication of document written by Brigadier General AungGyi • Some soldiers refused to shoot at the protestors • Low levels of education amongst soldiers • NLD won seats in areas where the military dominated • Middle ranked (literate) soldiers tended to support the movement. (They didn’t get the Tatmadaw’s goodies) • 22nd light infantry were always keen to repress, not like the rest of the army. This caused ruptures, others would not speak to them. • About 1,000 active servicemen actively joined the movement in 1988 • One officer told the BBC 60% of the armed forces supported the NLD

  9. Repression • Free fire zones in Rangoon • Released agents and criminals to deliberately sow unrest and create violence, 21st June 1988 • Ne Win said “when the army shoots, it kills” in resignation speech, SeinLwin implemented this fully • Minimal manpower, maximum firepower as a deterrent

  10. International context • Japan refused to join an international boycott. • Foreign pressure would have limited impact as little economic influence there • But the economic crisis had forced Burma to trade on international markets. • International support for the movement only began once the movement had been suppressed • International groups did exist but they tended to have weak links with the NLD • Regime was helped out by states such as Thailand • Foreigners (often) didn’t believe the atrocities were happening until movement had been crushed • Repeated xenophobic propaganda had probably left a mark on the Burmese • Americans gave Burmese aid to fight their ‘war on drugs’ • BBC announced the demonstration for 8.8.88 • Also interviewed soldiers from periphery about shortages on radio

  11. Economics • People drifted back to the countryside during protests, (issues of food supply) • Transport strikes made food supply scarce • Urban rice shortages not repeated in 1990

  12. Strategies

  13. Periphery • 10,000 students left for the periphery • Power is extremely centralised in Burma, periphery of little importance • Student’s relative advantage rests in urban areas, esp. Rangoon.

  14. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/burma-vj • http://www.myanmar.com/ • “Myanmar citizen must be for his own country and must not be sycophant and stooge of any alien nation in disguise of Myanmar Government working for smooth transportation in Katha-Bhamo region”

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