Last Updated on August 14, 2026
Since September 17th–the deadline given by Buddhist monks for the government to apologize for the violence used to break up a peaceful protest on September 5–the monks have been holding daily protests, continuing to speak out against the military regime and the dramatic increase in the cost of living they recently imposed.
The protests have been very concise since then. Every day, Buddhists have gathered and protested for only a few short hours at a time, hoping to avoid a high concentration of people which would likely evoke a response from the military.
This strategy was working fine up until this weekend; but then the number of protesters jumped forward–from 1700 on Friday to over 50,000 today.
This has clearly made the military regime uneasy. In fact they likely think it’s beginning to look like a popular uprising, because the military put out a response today, choosing words reminiscent of those used in 1988–the year the military committed an offensive against the people which left some 3,000 people dead. Today, they threatened the Buddhists will be “faced with the law” if they do not stop protesting.
Despite this ominous step forward, protests are likely going to continue–if only because the dramatic increase of prices has effectively disabled thousands; making it impossible to travel, communicate, and have their needs met.
Further Reading:
BBC News Coverage (be sure to see right column)
Relevant and Recent News on Google
Across the world right now, Indigenous peoples are facing a renewed assault on their lands, rights, and ways of life.
From extractive industries pushing deeper into ancestral territories, to governments rolling back hard-won protections,
the threat is global—and it is growing.
What makes this moment especially dangerous is how little attention it receives.
Stories like this are disappearing in real time. Mainstream media
barely covers it and the coverage is fragmented. The public is left without the context
needed to understand what is truly at stake.
That is exactly why IC Magazine exists..
For more than 20 years, IC has reported on Indigenous struggles worldwide — consistently, independently, and without compromise.
We don’t follow news cycles; we trace patterns. We don’t sensationalize; we provide context.
And when the world looks away, we stay focused.
But this work is increasingly difficult to sustain.
We refuse to lock our reporting behind a paywall. We don’t sell access through subscriptions.
And we don’t answer to advertisers. IC Magazine survives solely because readers like you choose to
support independent Indigenous journalism.
Please donate today if you can. Every contribution helps us to continue this crucial work.
Thank you,
John Ahni Schertow
Founder and Editor in Chief
