A monk looks towards the Shwedagon pagoda which is said to contain several hairs of the Buddha. Yangon, Burma 2010

Buddhist reflections at the Shwe Dagon pagoda in Yangon. Burma 2010

Buddhist monks on their morning alms round. Many people and businesses provide food and gifts to monks every day. Yangon, Burma 2010

Buddhist nuns line up to receive food on their morning alms round in Yangon. Burma / Myanmar 2010

Burmese exiles hold protest outside the Burma / Myanmar embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. Buddhist monks in Burma have long been the catalyst for political change. 1992

Burmese students, monks and exiles demonstrate outside the Burmese embassy in Bangkok. Thailand 1991

Monks from the All Burma Young Monks Union (ABYMU) travel by ox-cart through resistance areas in eastern Burma, 1991

Burmese Buddhist monks belonging to the All Burma Young Monks Union (ABYMU) travel by boat with members of the democratic and ethnic resistance to Burmese miltary rule. Karen state, Burma / Myanmar 1991

Monks from the ABYMU discuss the security situation with ethnic Karen and ABSDF guerrillas in eastern Burma. 1991

A young monk holds the tail fin from a mortar which exploded inside his monastery grounds. eastern Burma 1991

Monks from a Buddhist resistance group, the All Burma Young Monks Union (ABYMU) pray in an 'underground monastry' while touring resistance frontlines. Burma 1991

A Burmese Buddhist monk reveals his chest tattoo at a monastry in eastern Burma. 1991

Monks with candles walk and meditate around a tree inside their monastery. Eastern Burma / Myanmar 1991

A karen guerrilla sits with a Burmese Buddhist monk in a resistance-held area of eastern Burma. 1991

Monks from the All Burma Young Monks Union (ABYMU) visit frontlines areas of eastern Burma to co-ordinate with the ethnic and democratic resistance to military rule. At right is the ABYMU leader Ashin Khemesara. Eastern Burma 1991

The 'Rambo' monk outside his temple along the Thai Burma border. He is ethnically Karen and is known for his militant support towards ethnic and democratic resistance forces. Thailand 2007

Leader of the All Burma Young Monks Union (ABYMU) Ashin Khemesara visits a clinic in resistance-held areas of eastern Burma. 1991

Villagers play with a cane ball as monks watch on. Burma / Myanmar 1991

Soldiers block the road leading to Aung San Suu Kyi's home as her supporters gather on the day of her release. Yangon, Burma / Myanmar 2010

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi appears at the gate of her home hours after her release from years under house arrest. Yangon, Burma, 2010

Aung San Suu Kyi addresses a rally in Yangon days after her release from house arrest. Burma / Myanmar 2010

Aung San Suu Kyi at her lakeside home in Yangon days afetr her release from house arrest. Burma / Myanmar 2010

Burmese Buddhist monk with umbrella and smoking a cheroot stands near a gathering of monks and guerrillas involved in the armed resistance to military rule. Burma / Myanmar 1991

Swallows swoop over temples at the Shwedagon pagoda at dusk. Yangon, Burma 2010