Myanmar Journal: Hell to Pay

The following thread is being written by a vipassana meditator from the tradition of S.N. Goenka who is currently in Myanmar, who has played a pivotal role in the organization’s mission. For his safety, personal details have been obscured, but he has made it his desire that his observations be read by meditators everywhere.


I am settling in to watch ASEAN meeting when suddenly I hear a lot of frantic screaming from outside. At this time women and couples are going or coming from market at the top of our street. When I look outside many women and children are running down the street in absolute terror. What immediately came to mind was the iconic image from the Vietnam era of children running down the road after their village was attacked with napalm. Instantly I was reminded of that.

The terror in the eyes of children I know was just stinging from the tear gas. Soon hundreds of others also started pouring down the road. In the distance shots fired along with the sound of stun grenades. Nine truckloads of soldiers along with many police had arrived at the main road on the edge of our quarter. How they got that close without an alarm being sounded is inexplicable.

People in our quarter soon reacted and instead of running away as had been the case in the first several weeks they now ran toward the situation. A lot of tear gas and stun grenades fired and around the corner gunshots could be heard.

Right now I cannot explain everything that transpired but around 4 pm I get a call from my wife who got caught up in the middle of it and has taken refuge in a shop/apartment on the main road. When this kind of situation happens everyone leaves the main gates to the apartment buildings open so that people can hide. I cannot explain how painful it was to listen to my wife whispering over the phone while soldiers were right out front.

For the next sixty to ninety minutes with tear gas going off, shots being fired and stun grenades being thrown we texted back and forth. Huge crowds of citizens gathered from all directions and it appeared as if the soldiers and police became frightened, took defensive position and trucks came up to extract them.

When they left my wife was able to get out and return home safely but frightened. Police and soldiers then retreated down the street but got reinforcements and then returned.

At around 6:45 pm they all fell back and are now stationed in 3 groups along the main road. Sure there will be hell to pay. Already several persons in our Quarter arrested. Another sleepless night ahead. People are returning home now and laying in the streets completely exhausted.

Shwe Lan Ga LayComment