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Other than an end to the military junta, what do the monks want? What does “democracy” amount to in the Burmese context? I know little or nothing about Burma/Myanmar, but I seem to remember reading somewhere that the Buddhists want Buddhism to be the official religion there, and that other religions should be suppressed, or at least rendered second-class, disadvantaged. Maybe that would be necessary to counter Muslim militance, but, if true, it hardly matches up with Buddhism’s image as peaceful and unworldly. Can someone who knows more tell me if what I read is correct?

Gen. Aung San’s daughter Aung San Suu Kyi is pretty famous, and the military has always restricted her moves for the fear of her influence. She is the key figure in the country. She is likely liberal in terms of her pacifist views, not an “Iron Lady” that wants to fight with guns, even the junta is an evil to the society to the people.

The protest began with the anger of the control of fuel price, but I am not sure that was the reason for the monks to rise up, but now the monks have finally concluded the regime evil in public. In Thailand, Buddhism is part of the citizens’ life, and has strong influence, but I am not how much influence it has on the people of the entire South East Asia.

I am expecting too much, but I hope this will be the beginning of dominoes of democracy flipping all over South East Asia, including Laos and Vietnam. That will be a kick in the belly of China.

I dont know many countries where Buddhism has suppressed any religion. Buddhism may well be the official religion (just like Christianity is the official religion in many countries) but they tend to be far less radical or theocratic.
As for Burma, the choice is between a Communist China backed military junta and Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratic forces backed by Buddhist monks. Or between a nominally Buddhist state and a Chinese proxy.