Why are Buddhist monks being persecuted in Myanmar?

The government of Myanmar (also known as Burma) is an authoritarian dictatorial regime which is controlled by the military (Tatmadaw) in the form the of State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). A parliamentary government was elected in 1990, but the military prevented it from convening. The Government of Myanmar has attempted to control Buddhist institutions through coercive means, including the intimidation, torture, and murder of monks , after monks played an active role in the protest movements against the military Dictatorship in 2007, the state cracked down Buddhist monks and monasteries.

Myanmar is about 89% Buddhist, 4%Christians and 4% Muslim, all of which have reported cases of persecution.

Myanmar is employing the American model of separation of Church and State but with a Steel Hand.