Ashin Kovida, a 24-year-old Buddhist monk almost brought an army to its knees. The devout young man has sought refuge in Thailand after leading last month’s huge protests in neighbouring Myanmar.

He pitted his Buddhist faith against the military regime but the uprising was brutally snuffed out by the army.

“The soldiers started shooting and I had a narrow escape. I saw monks being beaten,” says Kovida.

The protests were initially sparked by a huge fuel price increase imposed by the military government.

But when one monk was publicly beaten to death at a rally in the town of Bokoku, it infuriated Kovida.

“I was an ordinary monk, but then I heard about the death in Bokoku and I was surprised no monks came onto the streets. So I wrote to other monasteries. We had a committee of fifteen who organised the protests,” says Kovida.

The movement grew until the army cracked-down, arresting hundreds and Kovida fled for his life.

The Myanmar army circulated wanted posters showing Kovida marching at the front of the demonstration. Meanwhile there were allegations that he plotted a bomb attack.

Kovida denies it all, describing how he escaped into Thailand wearing a crucifix and changing out of his religious robes, to disguise himself. Kovida says the United Nations must do more.

“Our blood is on the street, most of the monasteries are empty. I can't estimate how many people in prison, when will UN Security Council take action?” asks Kovida.

The Buddhist faith has given monks like Kovida a quiet determination that eventually the military regime in Myanmar will be overthrown.

But now even he realises that may take many more years of pressure.

He has risked his life to challenge the junta. And now he can only pray his people will find the courage to once again defy the army and that another brave soul will lead them onto the streets.