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The Political Role of Myanmar's Monks

01/01/10January 1, 2010

The new year 2010 is promising to be particularly exciting in Myanmar, also known as Burma. The military-ruled country, which is celebrating its 62nd anniversary of independence from Britain on Monday, is set to go to the polls some time in 2010. The opposition fears this election will be a sham, as opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest.

Myanmar's Buddhist monks led protests against the military junta in September 2007
Myanmar's Buddhist monks led protests against the military junta in September 2007Image: AP

German filmmakers Carolin Röckelein and Karin Dürr have just finished a documentary called "In the Middle of the Bridge" on Myanmar's monks, who played a leading role in the country's last political upheaval in September 2007. They interviewed monks who took part in street protests against the regime and subsequently had to flee the country.

Currently, they are preparing another documentary on Burmese refugees in Thailand.

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