September 2007 saw the largest popular protests against military rule in Burma in nearly 20 years, led by monks, which came to be known as the “Saffron Revolution.” Burmese government security forces killed, tortured, and violently dispersed peaceful protesters, including monks. In the ensuing crackdown, Burmese courts sentenced hundreds of political activists and monks to long prison terms, some as long as 65 years.
© 2010 Platon for Human Rights Watch