Monks from Myanmar March in Cannes Film Festival

May 20, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The Buddhist Channel

Wire Service: AP

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=3,6460,0,0,1,0

Five monks from Myanmar marched through the Cannes Film Festival crowd on Monday to demand that the Southeast Asian nation's junta allow foreign aid workers into the country to help cyclone victims.

"This is a humanitarian crisis — we need help," said U Uttara, an exiled monk among the marchers.

Singer-actress Jane Birkin joined the monks during their awareness-raising efforts in Cannes. Other activities included speeches and the screening of a short film shot in Myanmar, called "Freedom from Fear."

Birkin said the march's message was: "Let us in, and let us help."