Launching the Saffron Revolution

“I wanted my country to be a free, fair, equal country. So, I decided to [join the Saffron Revolution]. I already knew, in the beginning, that I might die. If I was arrested, they would kill me. But I didn’t care. I must do it for the truth. I must do it for the people. I decided like that.”

These poignant words were spoken by U Gambira, a Burmese Buddhist monk who played a pivotal role in the protests that unfolded in 2007, and which came to be known as the Saffron Revolution. At that time, thousands of monks were joined by students and fellow citizens to peacefully take to the streets of major cities in Myanmar in protest. They conducted prayer sessions and called for the release of political prisoners.

In response to this heartfelt, peaceful expression of the people’s wishes, the ruling military junta unleashed a brutal crackdown. Security forces employed violence, tear gas, and batons to disperse the demonstrators. Monasteries were raided, and numerous monks and civilians were detained. This included U Gambira. He was imprisoned for years, and subjected to horrific physical, mental, and chemically-induced torture. But despite the ruthlessness of the crackdown, the Saffron Revolution protests was a resolute expression of dissent against the regime, shining a spotlight on the yearning for democratic reforms in Myanmar—a legacy that resonates to this very day.

U Gambira’s powerful words, drawn from a recent podcast discussion, carry profound significance for two critical reasons. Firstly, they illuminate the extraordinary personal sacrifice that he was willing to make in his unwavering pursuit of freedom for his nation. Secondly, they indicate how a dedicated Buddhist monk can interpret the Buddha's teachings as fully aligning with the principles of democracy and human rights. As the military junta attempts to legitimize its power by justifying its existence as being to ‘protect Buddhism,’ U Gambira’s words serve as a poignant reminder that it is rather a society founded on freedom and inclusivity that embodies the essence of the Buddha’s teachings… and never armed aggression promulgated by a military regime.