It is fairly obvious that I've been remiss in covering the recent events in Burma. Rest assured I have been following the news closely, though, and will do my best to cover the news of the last month or so.

The initial protests were in response to the junta's surprise 500% increase in fuel prices on August 15th. The subsequent increase in transportation fares meant many people in the cities were left stranded, unable to pay their fares to get to work or school.

ALTSEAN Burma has a detailed report on the protests, as well as an interactive map showing details and locations of the demonstrations.

The first peaceful protests were organized and led by members of the 88 generation student leaders in Rangoon, but as demonstrations spread to the rest of the country, they took on new dimensions. Demonstrations soon became focused not only on the fuel hikes, but also on the heavy-handed tactics of the junta. In Taungup, Arakan, an estimated 1000 people spontaneously joined in a march initiated by 15 NLD members demanding the release of two men arrested during a previous demonstration.

One key aspect of the current situation is the involvement of monks in protesting the government - with the moral authority monks carry in Burma, ongoing opposition and boycotts by the sangha could create an uncontrollable situation for the military regime. on August 28th, 200 monks marched in the streets of Akyab calling for a reduction in fuel prices on behalf of the people. In Pakkoku on September 5th, 500 monks had their demonstration broken up by soldiers firing shots over their heads and attacking several of the men. When authorities later went to apologize for the use of force, they found themselves taken hostage in the monastery and their vehicles being burned.

After the Pakkoku incident, monasteries issued letters demanding officials apologize, and threatening a boycott of the government if they did not also roll back fuel prices - with September 18th given as a deadline.

BNI Online is probably the best place to keep up with the breaking news, as they post articles coming in from several smaller news agencies in the region.

The last few days it's been difficult to keep up with the events unfolding in the lead up to the threatened monks' boycott and protests.

On September 14th, military officials were thrown out of a temple in Phayarkyi quarter by the monks there. Government officials have been approaching abbots and monks around the country to 'encourage' them not to participate in any forthcoming demonstrations. In Akyab, Abbots were forced to join a committee to cooperate with government officials in preventing demonstrations. Other monasteries were asked to keep their monks from traveling to central Burma. In Pegu, 1,800 monks at two monasteries were barred from their morning alms rounds to collect food offerings. The abbots at the two monasteries had previously rejected the junta's request to "take responsibility" if their monks joined in the protests.

Perhaps one of the more disturbing events, in Myityina, Kachin State, several hundred young student monks seemingly disappeared from several monasteries. It now seems that the monks were put under house arrest. According to locals, the young monks, known as koyins, are being forced to stay in their rooms and are being fed by military authorities. Government security forces are stationed both within and near the monasteries, each of which have an estimated 200 koyins in residence. The idea that the government is providing food is perhaps not insignificant, as monks rely on food alms for their sustenance, and the threatened boycott would entail the monks rejecting alms from those associated with the government.

Today an estimated 1,000 monks are marching in Rangoon. The protest started out with 60, and continued to grow despite government efforts to stop it. It remains to be seen how this might continue to unfold in the rest of the country.