Update: Burmese Protests Expand

Photography by the AP.

Things have escalated in the Burmese Buddhist led protests over the weekend-

"Up to 100,000 people took part, among them perhaps 20,000 barefoot red- and orange-robed monks. At first, the monks limited themselves to chanting prayers and sermons, and urged the Burmese public not to join their marches. But over the weekend, a hitherto unknown group, the All Burma Monks’ Alliance, urged people to “struggle peacefully against the evil military dictatorship” until its downfall. Monday’s march was joined by some of the country’s best-known actors and musicians, as well as leaders of the opposition National League of Democracy (NLD) and crowds of ordinary Burmese."

The Economist has the full story. Wikipedia news is tracking events as they unfold.

The International Crisis Group considers the situation in Myanmar. Human Rights Watch doubts that reforms will bring change in the country.