BULLETS IN THE ALMS BOWL An Analysis of the Brutal SPDC Suppression of the September 2007 Saffron Revolution March 2008 This report is dedicated to the memory of all those who lost their lives for their part in the September 2007 pro-democracy protests in the struggle for justice and democracy in Burma. May that memory not fade May your death not be in vain May our voices never be silenced Bullets in the Alms Bowl An Analysis of the Brutal SPDC Suppression of the September 2007 Saffron Revolution Written, edited and published by the Human Rights Documentation Unit March 2008 © Copyright March 2008 by the Human Rights Documentation Unit The Human Rights Documentation Unit (HRDU) is indebted to all those who had the courage to not only participate in the September protests, but also to share their stories with us and in doing so made this report possible. The HRDU would like to thank those individuals and organizations who provided us with information and helped to confirm many of the reports that we received. Though we cannot mention many of you by name, we are grateful for your support. The HRDU would also like to thank the Irish Government who funded the publication of this report through its Department of Foreign Affairs. Front Cover: A procession of Buddhist monks marching through downtown Rangoon on 27 September 2007. Despite the peaceful nature of the demonstrations, the SPDC cracked down on protestors with disproportionate lethal force [© EPA]. Rear Cover (clockwise from top): An assembly of Buddhist monks stage a peaceful protest before a police barricade near Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon on 26 September 2007 [© Reuters]; Security personnel stepped up security at key locations around Rangoon on 28 September 2007 in preparation for further protests [© Reuters]; A Buddhist monk holding a placard which carried the message on the minds of all protestors, Sangha and civilian alike. [unknown]. Bullets in the Alms Bowl was published by HRDU; © HRDU March 2008. All contents of this report may be freely reproduced or distributed for non-commercial purposes or quoted for media and other related uses, provided that which is reproduced is properly acknowledged. This report was produced on a non-profit basis and is not for commercial sale. As a professional courtesy, HRDU would appreciate copies of any materials in which excerpts from this report are used. The Human Rights Documentation Unit (HRDU) is the research and documentation department of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB). This report, along with all other reports published by the HRDU may be viewed on the NCGUB website at www.ncgub.net. Questions or comments can be submitted to the HRDU by email at [email protected]. BULLETS IN THE ALMS BOWL Table of Contents Table of Contents ……………………………………………………………….. 1 Acronyms and Abbreviations ………………………………………………… 3 Maps ………………………………………………………………………………. 6 Map of Burma Showing Protest Locations ………………………………….. 6 Map of Rangoon ………………………………………………………………. 7 I. Executive Summary ………………………………………………………….. 9 II. Government by Exploitation: The Burmese Way to Capitalism? ….... 15 Macroeconomic Policy ………………………………………………………... 17 Fiscal Policy …………………………………………………………………. 17 Monetary Policy …………………………………………………………….. 20 The Economic Cost of Militarization …………………………………………. 24 The Straw that Broke the Camel’s Back ……………………………………. 27 III. Growing Discontent: The Economic Protests ……..…………………... 31 Early Signs of Dissatisfaction ………………………………………………… 31 Protesting the Fuel Price Rise ……………………………………………….. 32 IV. The Saffron Revolution ………..…………………………………………… 37 The SPDC and the Sangha …………………………………………………... 37 Interdependence of the Monastic and Lay Communities …………………. 38 Pakokku and the Call of Excommunication ………………………………… 40 Nationwide Protests Declared ……………………………………………….. 43 V. Crackdown on the Streets ……...………………………………………….. 49 Wednesday, 26 September 2007 ……………………………………………. 49 Shwedagon Pagoda ………………………………………………………... 49 Downtown Rangoon ………………………………………………………... 54 Thakin Mya Park ……………………………………………………………. 56 Yankin Post Office ………………………………………………………….. 58 Thursday, 27 September 2007 ………………………………………………. 58 South Okkalapa Township ………………………………………………… 58 Sule Pagoda ………………………………………………………………… 62 Pansodan Road Bridge ……………………………………………………. 65 Thakin Mya Park ……………………………………………………………. 66 Tamwe Township State High School No.3 ………………………………. 67 Friday, 28 September 2007 …………………………………………………... 72 Pansodan Road ………………….…………………………………………. 74 Pazundaung Township …………………………………………………….. 74 Latha Township …………………………………………………………….. 75 Saturday, 29 September 2007, onwards ……………………………………. 75 1 Human Rights Documentation Unit VI. The Monastery Raids .……………………………………………………… 79 Invitations to ‘Breakfast’ ………………………………………………………. 81 Maggin Monastery …………………………………………………………….. 81 Ngwe Kyar Yan Monastery …………………………………………………… 83 Additional Raids in Okkalapa ………………………………………………… 86 Thaketa Township …………………………………………………………….. 88 Raids in Other Locations around the Country ……………………………… 89 Arakan State ………………………………………………………………… 89 Mandalay Division ………………………………………………………….. 89 Kachin State ………………………………………………………………… 90 Continued Raids ……………………………………………………………….. 92 VII. A Witch Hunt ……………….……………………………………………….. 93 Night Time Abductions ………………………………………………………... 95 Arrested for Harbouring ………………………………………………………. 99 Arrests in Lieu Of Others ……………………………………………………… 101 Collective Punishment of Entire Neighbourhoods …………………………. 103 Release of Detainees …………………………………………………………. 106 Continuing Arrest and Detention of Political Activists …………...………… 109 VIII. Judicial Procedure and Conditions of Detention ……………………. 111 Prolonged Detention without Charge ………………………………………... 112 Judicial Procedure …………………………………………………………….. 116 Conditions of Detention ……………………………………………………….. 119 Interrogation and Torture of Detainees ……………………………………… 123 Denial of Medical Care ………………………………………………………... 131 Deaths in Custody …………………………………………………………….. 133 Treatment of Monks ……………………………………………………………. 136 IX. Analysis of the Crackdown: Intent to Brutalise, Cover Up and Discredit 139 Hired Thugs ……………………………………………………………………. 143 Targeted and Intentional Killings …………………………………………….. 147 Removal of the Dead and Wounded ………………………………………… 149 Treatment of the Injured ………………………………………………………. 150 Secret Cremations …………………………………………………………….. 153 Suppression of Information …………………………………………………… 156 The Internet …………………………………………………………………. 156 Telephone Networks Severed …………………………………………….. 159 The National Press …………………………………………………………. 159 Deliberate Targeting of Journalists ……………………………………….. 161 Providing Information to the Media ……………………………………….. 164 Defamation of the Sangha ……………………………………………………. 165 The Pro-SPDC Rallies ………………………………………………………… 167 X. Conclusion ………………...………………………………………………….. 169 XI. Recommendations ………………………….…..…………………………… 175 2 BULLETS IN THE ALMS BOWL Acronyms and Abbreviations Acronyms AAPPB Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in Burma ABFSU All Burma Federation of Student Unions ABMA All Burma Monks Alliance ADB Asian Development Bank AFP Agence France Presse AHRC Asian Human Rights Commission AI Amnesty International AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome AP Associated Press APPPB Asia Pacific Peoples Partnership on Burma ASEAN Association of South East Asian Nations BBC British Broadcasting Corporation BCUK Burma Campaign UK BEW Burma Economic Watch BSI Bureau of Special Investigation BSPP Burmese Socialist Program Party CCSDPT Committee for the Coordination of Services for Displaced Persons in Thailand CID Criminal Investigation Department CNG Compressed Natural Gas CNN Cable News Network DVB Democratic Voice of Burma EPA European Pressphoto Agency EU European Union FIDH International Federation for Human Rights GDP Gross Domestic Product GTI Government Technical Institute HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus HRC Human Rights Council HRDP Human Rights Defenders and Promoters HRDU Human Rights Documentation Unit HRW Human Rights Watch IB Infantry Battalion ILO International Labour Organization IMF International Monetary Fund IMNA Independent Mon News Agency INGO International Non-Government Organization IPS Inter Press Service ISP Internet Service Provider ITUC International Trade Union Confederation KHRG Karen Human Rights Group KNG Kachin News Group KNLA Karen National Liberation Army KNU Karen National Union 3 Human Rights Documentation Unit LID Light Infantry Division MDC Myanmar Development Committee MEC Myanmar Economic Corporation MIC Myanmar Investment Commission NaSaKa Burma Border Security Force (Western border) NCGUB National Coalition Government Of The Union Of Burma NDD Network for Democracy and Development NGO Non-Government Organization NLD National League for Democracy NLM New Light of Myanmar NPED National Planning and Economic Development OHCHR Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights PDC Political Defiance Committee PSRD Press Scrutiny and Relations Department RFA Radio Free Asia RSF Reporters Sans Frontieres SAS Swan Arr Shin; ‘masters of physical force’ SaYaPa Military Security Force military intelligence SB Special Branch (of police) SCUK Save the Children Foundation - UK SEAPA South East Asian Press Alliance SESG Special Envoy of the Secretary General SHAN Shan Herald Agency for News SMNC Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee SPDC State Peace and Development Council TPDC Township Peace and Development Council UDHR Universal Declaration of Human Rights UMEH Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd. UN United Nations UNDP United Nations Development Program