Burma's military rulers last night threatened to "take action' after up to 100,000 demonstrators protesting against the regime flooded the streets of Rangoon in the biggest show of dissent in almost two decades.Tens of thousands of Buddhist monks and pink-robed nuns led the marchers who snaked for nearly a mile through the former capital, one of several marches that slowed traffic to a crawl and prompted the closure of shops and schools. The monks, carrying flags and banners proclaiming the peaceful nature of the demonstration, were flanked by even greater numbers of people who joined the parade, clapping and chanting in what many described as a carnival atmosphere. The mood of elation among the ranks on the sixth straight day of marches sparked by crippling fuel price rises reflected the surprise that the generals had not crushed the anti-government movement.
But in the regime's first response to the protests, the minister for religious affairs Brigadier General Thura Myint Maung was quoted on state-owned radio as saying "actions will be taken against the monks' protest marches according to the law if they cannot be stopped by religious teachings". He blamed the protests on "destructive elements who do not want to see peace, stability and progress in the country".
The protests, sparked by a doubling of petrol and diesel prices, and a fivefold rise in the price of cooking gas on August 15, tapped a deep well of anger in a country in economic crisis. Inflation runs at 40% and most people suffer economic hardship.
Britain's ambassador in Rangoon, Mark Canning, applauded the Burmese military's handling of the dissent, but fears the demonstrations could yet end in bloodshed. "So far the military have shown commendable restraint," he said. "But there are a number of scenarios that could unfold.
"The protests could just fizzle out, though that looks less and less likely with each passing day. Or the government could try to restore its authority. A counter-reaction would be disastrous. They need to be extremely careful, as harming monks would make matters much worse."
The reverence in which Buddhist monks are held in a country where almost every family sends a son to the monastery may explain the softly-softly approach. But Aung Niang Oo, a Burmese exile, believes neighbouring China is also playing a restraining role. "China wants stability in Burma and believes the military is the only one to provide that," he said.
In his Labour conference speech, Gordon Brown reiterated the government's backing for the Burmese protesters. "There is a golden thread of common humanity that across nations and faiths binds us together, and it can light the darkest corners of the world," he said. "A message should go out to anyone facing persecution, anywhere from Burma and Zimbabwe: human rights are universal and no injustice can last for ever."