The last time the Burmese government faced nationwide protests was in August 1988. However, there is one important difference between the events of 19 years ago and today: the increase in technology. Modern technology such as the internet and mobile phones have reached Burma, allowing ordinary people to overcome the appalling state censorship and get their news to the outside world. While less than 1% of the Burmese people have access to the internet, those that do are making use of it. I don't know if you've noticed how many of the photos and videos that have reached mainstream news reports were shot on mobile phone cameras. However, it appears that the military junta are now trying to crack down on this unofficial reporting - bandwidth is being severely restricted and phone lines are being cut. Access to popular Burmese blogs and YouTube has been removed. The police are destroying any cameras that they find on demonstrations.Links:
- BBC News review of the 1988 protests.
- Wikipedia: 8888 Uprising.
- Reuters: Myanmar 1988 veterans watch nervously from exile (from burmanet.org)
- Accounts from inside Burma, emailed to the BBC.
- Reporters Without Borders/Reporters sans frontières account of Burmese government internet restrictions.
- BBC News 24 report: Videos that have been emailed to the BBC