History has proved that whether in the West, Europe, and any where else, the desire for democracy had never been granted whether under absolute monarchy or totalitarian regimes. People have to sacrifice their lives to obtain it like in Indonesia or taken peacefully by 'people's power' as has happened in Philippines . Either way, the paramount strength here is unity.

In the case of Burma, in order to liberate Burma from British yoke, monks, General Aung San and his comrades together with the people in different parts of the country wisely chose the way. Living under a sovereign country where there is no freedom and human rights, the people of Burma led by University students once again scarified their lives to liberate Burma, but now not from foreign invaders but from a group of power mongers who were fellow Burmese and their cronies. Thousands of students scarified their lives for this battle, so that their families, relatives, friends could enjoy the fruit of democracy after all. However, with no mercy, the students and people were murdered by the self-imposed government led by General. Sein Win and General Saw Maung.

The battle by democracy loving Burmese people has been carried on for almost two decades. On the way, some had have become exhausted and run away from the battle while many have carried out the battle bravely with unwavering determination. In the middle of August, 2007, the dramatic hike of fuel and other commodities prices infuriated the people. As a consequence, peaceful protests led by 88 Generation Student leaders started in Rangoon, former capital of Burma to express their grievances. The junta cracked down and almost all the 88 Generation Students leaders were detained at unknown places, and a few who have narrowly escaped were hunted down intensively by the military junta. With continuing to suffer and face starvation the people, the monks in Burma have started demanding that the military regime come for negotiations to solve the problem.

Instead of listening to the people and monks grievances, the SPDC mistreated some monks in Pakokku Township, upper Burma . The monks demand public apologies from the authority, but have failed to get a response from the military regime. On September 17 and 18, and again today, in response to the failure of the regime to apologise for violence committed against monks two weeks before, thousands of their peers have taken to the streets of cities and towns around the country, including Rangoon, Mandalay, Pegu, Sittwe, Kale, Pakokku, Kyaukpadaung, Tharrawaddy, Aunglan and Chauk. The demand has grown and spread over parts of the country, and today, September 24 has been the fifth consecutive days of protest against the military junta in Burma . The protest has become the first largest monks and people's movement in Burma against the military regime after the 1988 students uprising.

The protest has gained support and cheers from democracy loving governments, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and prominent individuals. It is not enough. It is time for all religions in Burma to set aside its differences and stand up together with monks for the sake of democracy. It is also a time for all Burmese political parties, politicians and activists inside and outside the country to set aside their differences and work together for the cause of our common goal. Above all, it is time for every Burmese citizen, who love their country to come forward and depose the unwanted system and build a new society where everyone enjoys peace and fairness.