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A Myanmar man walks past a police blockcade in downtown Yangon |
The military leadership in Myanmar, after facing weeks of peaceful protests, has started to tough on crowds emboldened by the actions of monks who've been staging protest marches.
Monks who are influential in this Buddhist nation, have emerged as leaders of the protest movement which has been joined by crowds which have escalated the protests into the biggest challenge to the junta in nearly two decades.
The recent unrest has thrown Myanmar into the spotlight, but the troubles of the isolated nation began as early as August, sparked by an increase in fuel prices.
Timeline of developments:
August 15
Myanmar's government doubles key fuel prices overnight, deepening the woes
of ordinary people in the already impoverished country.
August 19
Some 500 people protest the increase in a rare march through the main city
Yangon.
August 22
State media says 13 leaders of a pro-democracy group that had led recent
protests have been arrested.
August 28
Buddhist monks protest for the first time, joining a rally in the port town
of Sittwe - one of the first demonstrations outside Yangon.
September 5
Troops fire warning shots above a crowd including at least 300 monks and
beat them with bamboo sticks in Pakokku, a major centre of Buddhist learning.
September 6
Hundreds of Buddhist monks hold a group of local and security officials
hostage for several hours in Pakokku in protest at the earlier day's violence.
September 14
The United Nations calls for the release of more than 150 people arrested
in protests.
September 17
An alliance of Buddhist monks urges monks not to accept alms from
soldiers.
September 18
Thousands of monks march in towns across Myanmar with hundreds of people
joining in.
September 19
More than 2,000 monks protest across Myanmar with people coming out to
support them.
September 20
More than 1,300 Buddhist monks march in Yangon. They are allowed to enter
Myanmar's most important landmark, the Shwedagon Pagoda, which had been sealed
off by authorities for three days.
September 21
At least 3,000 people and monks march in Yangon. People form a human chain to protect the monks.
September 22
Several thousand monks rally in Yangon and Myanmar's second city Mandalay.
In an unprecedented move, some are allowed to pray outside the home of detained democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, who emerges to pay her respects.
September 23
An estimated 20,000 monks and nuns take part in the biggest marches seen in
Myanmar since 1988. Their leaders call for national reconciliation.
September 24
Marches gather steam, swelling to an estimated 100,000 in Yangon. State
media report a warning to the monks to stay out of politics.
September 25
Government officials warn people not to protest, but marches draw some
100,000 in Yangon. US President George W. Bush unveils new sanctions on Myanmar's military
rulers.
September 26
Security forces beat demonstrators with batons, arrest dozens more and fire
tear gas and warning shots. Four people, including three monks, are killed.
The junta bans gatherings of more then five people and arrests two leading
activists.
September 27
Authorities raid two monasteries, arresting at least 100 monks. Security
forces fire warning shots trying to break up a crowd of tens of thousands of
people at Yangon's Sule Pagode. Troops threaten "extreme action" if the crowds do not disperse. Japanese journalist is among nine shot dead.
September 28
Myanmar cuts internet connections and security is beefed up on the streets. People continue to defy the military junta by taking to the streets.
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