Last summer, thousands of saffron-robed monks marched peacefully with ordinary citizens to demand freedom and justice for the 51 million people of Burma. They were shot, arrested, and tortured by the military junta that has ruled Burma since 1988, and in response the international community demanded change. The United States and Europe introduced new financial sanctions targeting the regime leadership. Burma's Southeast Asian neighbors issued an unusually harsh statement condemning the brutality. Even Chinese leaders called for "reform" and a "democratic process."
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