Monks Allowed Past Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's House

In a move to perhaps quell some of the public discourse  after recent government crackdowns, police unexpectedly let more than 500 monks through at a roadblock where Aung San Suu Kyi's house is located.

The monks stopped briefly in front of Suu Kyi's house and said some prayers before leaving

"Today is extraordinary. We walked past lay disciple Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's house today. We are pleased and glad to see her looking fit and well," a 45-year-old monk told about 200 people at Sule Pagoda in downtown Yangon. "Daw" is an honorific used in referring to older women.

"She came out to the gate and paid obeisance to us and later waved at the crowd when we left," said the monk, who did not give his name. Courtesy of AP: Monks Allowed Past Suu Kyi's House   

Aung San Suu Kyi is the elected leader of Burma and a pro-democracy activist.

The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) military junta, that took control of Burma in 1988, changed the name of the country, Burma, to the "Union of Myanmar" in 1989. It also changed the capital's name from Rangoon to Yangon.

In 1990, the junta refused to hand over power after Aung San Suu Kyi's party landslide victory, and has kept Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest for ten out of the last 18 years.

The world has continued to watch in deep dismay as a country of Burma’s beauty and potential deteriorates under the oppressive weight of the junta.  The junta created and nurtured a repressive regime with no regard for human rights.

For what it is worth, Burma’s neighbors in the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) have publicly condemned the regime’s lack of tangible progress in returning to the democratic path.  Unfortunately there has been no progress.

I encourage everyone to pray for the junta to release Aung San Suu Kyi and allow democracy to florish in Burma.

Sources for the article:

Monks Allowed Past Suu Kyi's House

Quiet prayers, protests as Aung San Suu Kyi turns 61

Burma Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003