Wall Street Journal: Don’t forget about Burma’s democrats – U Pyinar Zawta

I am a Burmese Buddhist monk, and I am in exile. One year ago in September, the Burmese regime brutally crushed peaceful protests in my country. I was one of the monks who helped lead these protests, now known as the Saffron Revolution. The world focused on my country then, but a year later that focus has faded. As monks, we dedicate our lives to our faith, but also to humankind. We cannot keep silent against the oppression of our fellow Burmese. We live among the people, and we know they have been struggling. Fuel and food prices are too high for many to afford. Some send their children to our monasteries just to survive. We know that millions of dollars are coming into Burma from the sale of our country’s natural resources. Teak, gems, and natural gas have made the regime rich, while ordinary people go hungry. The Burmese... [read full story]