Seeing Suu Kyi: Tears on University Avenue

When I saw the three Buddhist monks carrying the religious flags at the forefront of the demonstration turn from Prome Road to University Avenue, the street where Aung San Suu Kyi lives, my heart started racing.

Most of the people, including me, had assumed the monks would be marching to Mei Lamu Pagoda in Rangoon’s North Okkalapa Township when we gathered on Saturday.

Now, as we marched in the rain, the people in the marching column realized the lead monks were walking toward our beloved Suu Kyi's home where she has been under house arrest since May 2003. Knowing that, we all walked faster.  

The sounds of the “Metta Sutta” (the Buddha’s words on loving kindness) rose up from the voices of about several hundred, mostly between the ages of 20 to 40. At the time, I didn't feel as calm as the monks did.

My excitement caused me to telephone my friends from a public telephone on the roadside, but I gave up the idea up because a dozen people were waiting to do the same thing.

When we approached the house of our beloved leader, I saw a barb wired barricade blocking the road. The monks stopped just before the barricade.

The civilians, who had offered protection to the monks throughout the demonstration by joining hands, looked at each other and wondered if the monks would be allowed to pass through the barricade or whether they would turn their backs to the barricade if not allowed.

I saw in the eyes of the man I held hands with the same emotions that were in my heart: what was going to happen?

A few moments later the negotiations between a leading monk and the authorities stopped.