September 30, 2007
3:30 p.m.(BST)
Gambari meets Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
In a surprise development the UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari today met detained Burmese pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon.
The visiting envoy met the Burmese Nobel Peace Laureate for ninety minutes at the State guest house in Rangoon.
The UN envoy, who led a three-member delegation, met the Burmese opposition leader on his return from Nay Pyi Taw after a meeting with Burma's military supremo Senior General Than Shwe.
Than Shwe, the hard-line junta leader promised the UN envoy that the Road Map would be finalized within one and-a-half years, sources said. No invitation has been sent yet to the Central Excutive Committee of Aung San Suu Kyi's party the National League for Democracy and there is little chance that it will have a meeting with the UN envoy.
" I think the news can be heard when he reaches Bangkok or Singapore like his previous trip,"said Nyan Win, NLD spokesperson.
A media black-out has been imposed on the UN envoy's visit to Burma where an anti-regime protest rages, though the tension has significantly declined today.
The UN envoy had proceeded to the isolated regime's fortified capital Nay Pyi Taw yesterday after which the military junta allowed him to meet the opposition leader.
Speculation is rife that the No.2 man in the junta, Vice Senior General Maung Aye, who has been identified by the opposition to be one general who doesn't want to shoot protesters met Aung San Suu Kyi a few days earlier. However, many Burmese are still not ready to accept that this is true.
Meanwhile, diplomatic sources claimed that Russia wants to see a compromise in Burma but the main obstacle remains the head of junta Senior General Than Shwe.
" Russia views Than Shwe as a problem," said a diplomatic source.
The military junta has come up with a condition and wants Aung San Suu Kyi should speak out to stop the anti-government demonstrations, sources added.
2:50 p.m.
Everyone is a leader: Sayadaw U Gamira
Everyone in Burma is a leader and should individually take to the streets in protest against the junta, said Sayadaw (abbot) U Gamira, whom the junta is searching, told Mizzima while on the run.
"The people should not wait for leaders to lead them, everyone should be a leader in their own right. We have to be individually involved and lead. It is important for everyone to lead at this time. The monks have done a lot and many are now thrown into jails and interrogation camps. And many have to sacrifice their lives," Sayadaw told Mizzima.
"By coming to monasteries in uniforms and arms and guarding the monks, they [the soldiers] are showing the world what they really are. They are not only dictators but terrorists," he added.
"If we cannot go out of the monasteries, there are things we can do inside the monasteries," he said.
September 30, 2007
Protests in Yangon
(Burmese Standard Time)1:30 p.m.
Blockade in Rangoon
As people gear up to stage another round of protests in Rangoon, authorities have put in place major blockades on Pyi Road. Streets and lanes along Pyi Road have been closed and movement of vehicles has been restricted to check protesters.
Meanwhile, it has begun to rain in Rangoon
Monks respond to crackdown by chanting loving kindness
September 30, 2007
Protests across Burma
(Burmese Standard Time)2:00 p.m
Prayer support for protesters in Kayah State
Local villagers in Dimawso and Pharuso Townships in Kayah State held prayers in support and solidarity to protesters in various parts of Burma, according to a Karenni youth group.
Meanwhile, the township authorities have ordered forming of Swan Arr Shin groups, where none exist, with not less than 20 people in each village, the Karenni student and youth group said in a statement.
As part of the junta's plan to organize anti-protest demonstrations in remote areas of the country to show Mr. Gambari that it has support from the public, authorities have ordered representatives from villages and towns in Kayah state to come for a mass rally in Loikaw, capital of Kayah state. At least 30 people from villages that have more than 50 households and 25 each from villagers that have less than 50 households were told to reach Loikaw town on Sunday, to support the junta's recently concluded National Convention.
1:45 p.m.Protests to continue in Mandalay
After severe restrictions on monks and guarding of monasteries to check the monks' movement, the authorities continue to persuade young monks and novices to return to their native places by giving them transportation fares. Protests by the monks in Mandalay as such has declined. Besides, as people are curiously observing the visit of Mr. Gambari to Burma, protest in Mandalay has come down.
However, locals said people are gearing up to stage a peaceful march this evening.
Though there are security forces still guarding the city, the security personnel are in a much more relaxed mood, said local residents.
Authorities have began to open the roads and reportedly the traffic remains normal.
Regiment 99 has been entrusted to oversee the security situation and to guard the monasteries in Aung Myay Thar Zan Township while regiment 33 is responsible for security in Chan Aye Thar Zan and Maha Aung Myay Townships.
"Authorities continue to arrest prominent leaders and keep a close watch on many others," a local residents said.
"People are observing Mr Gambari's visit," added the local.
12:20 p.m.Monks respond to crackdown by chanting loving kindness
Security forces in Mandalay have locked most of the Buddhist monasteries and restricted movement of monks, effectively barring the Buddhist clergy from marching on the streets in protest. However, though locked up inside the monasteries, monks continued their protest by chanting Metta Sutta (Buddhist words for loving kindness).
Meanwhile, civilians holding a big portrait of Gautama Buddha are gearing up for protests in Mandalay.
12 NoonMore security personnel deployed in Sittwe, Arakan
In order to prevent monks and civilians from protesting in Sittwe capital in Arakan state, the Burma Army has deployed more security personnel in key locations where protesters have previously staged demonstrations. Both police and soldiers have been posted in the town since last night.
"Soldiers have set up camps in the wunkabba ground in Dowin ward. They have made temporary tents. And there are about 100 policemen and 200 soldiers. The State Peace and Development Council office in Pyidawthar ward is also cordoned off with barbed wire. There are about 150 soldiers and policemen. Similarly, police and soldiers are also positioned at U Ottama Park. There are about 200 soldiers and policemen. The placements were made during the night. Monks now cannot even go for their usual Swan collection. They are being called and interrogated. The monks cannot move out anywhere," a local resident told Mizzima.
Though the authorities yesterday put on show the riot police exercising at a public ground, about 80 monks and more than 3000 civilians continued to march on the streets in protest in the evening.
Local residents explaining the security situation in Sittwe however, failed to predict whether a similar protest would be held today.
Monks Sentenced to Six Years Imprisonment;
Rangoon, Mandalay Locked Down by Troops
September 29, 2007—Streets in Rangoon and Mandalay were relatively quiet on Saturday, following three bloody days in which at least 10 protesters were gunned down, according to state-run media, and scores of monks and civilians were beaten and arrested by security forces.
However, members of Burma's opposition groups say as many as 200 people may have been killed in the standoff between monks, pro-democracy demonstrators and security forces. Many hundreds of people were seriously injured.
Many corpses were taken to secret locations, according to opposition sources.
In Rangoon, as many as 1,000 monks have been imprisoned since a boycott on alms from the military government and its supporters was declared on September 17, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners based on the Thai-Burmese border.
The monks are being held in the notorious Insein Prison and the Government Technology Institute compound, located near the prison in north Rangoon, according to sources in Rangoon.
A senior monk who was taken to Insein Prison by authorities to talk to the monks said they were stripped of their robes and are now wearing prison clothing. Some monks have already been sentenced to six years imprisonment by a specially convened court, he said.
Throughout the day scattered protesters numbering in the dozens to several hundred, mostly young and bold, played hit-and-run games with security forces in Rangoon.
"Some young people appeared on the streets, holding fighting peacock flags and wearing arm bands. When the army trucks come, they run away," said one resident.
The authorities, who clearly have control of Rangoon, fired tear gas in reply to groups who dared to venture out, and there were numerous arrests.
There is some hope among protesters that Sunday may see larger demonstrations to take advantage of the presence of UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who arrived in Rangoon on Saturday. Opposition forces are hopeful some type of dialogue can begin with the junta with Gambari as mediator. Authorities maintain a heavy presence around many of the most active monasteries in Rangoon and Mandalay. Many shopping malls, businesses, grocery stores and public parks are closed.
Ngwe Kyar Yan Monastery in Rangoon, the scene of a bloody overnight attack in which about 200 monks were detained early Thursday morning, has since been looted by army troops, according to sources close to the monastery. Everything of value was carted away, including scores of Buddha statues. The head of one of the largest Buddhas, embedded with valuable jewels, was cut off.
Meanwhile the price of basic food in Rangoon is increasing hour by hour. Some retail shops say rice stocks are very low. "I have rice to sell for only two or three days," said one shop owner. A dusk to dawn curfew in Rangoon and Mandalay has made life very difficult for the people.
Authorities cut Internet service within the country on Friday and phone service has been sporadic, further isolating residents.
The largest demonstration in the country on Saturday occurred in Kyaukpadaung in Mandalay Division when about 1,000 monks led an estimated 30,000 people in a peaceful march despite the heavy presence of security forces and military troops.
Sources say a disinformation campaign consisting of counter-demonstrations organized by the Union Solidarity and Development Association, a junta-backed group, has forced people from Kyaukpadaung, Myingyan and Nyaung Oo to demonstrate in support of the junta crackdown.
Over the past weeks, leaders and members of the National League for Democracy and other opposition groups in Rangoon, Mandalay, Magwe division and Arakan state have been arrested by local authorities, essentially decimating the ranks of the political opposition. Thand Nwe Oo, a youth leader of the NLD who was arrested in Thaingangyun Township is 6-months pregnant, said a source.
3:30 p.m.(BST)
Gambari meets Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
In a surprise development the UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari today met detained Burmese pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon.
The visiting envoy met the Burmese Nobel Peace Laureate for ninety minutes at the State guest house in Rangoon.
The UN envoy, who led a three-member delegation, met the Burmese opposition leader on his return from Nay Pyi Taw after a meeting with Burma's military supremo Senior General Than Shwe.
Than Shwe, the hard-line junta leader promised the UN envoy that the Road Map would be finalized within one and-a-half years, sources said. No invitation has been sent yet to the Central Excutive Committee of Aung San Suu Kyi's party the National League for Democracy and there is little chance that it will have a meeting with the UN envoy.
" I think the news can be heard when he reaches Bangkok or Singapore like his previous trip,"said Nyan Win, NLD spokesperson.
A media black-out has been imposed on the UN envoy's visit to Burma where an anti-regime protest rages, though the tension has significantly declined today.
The UN envoy had proceeded to the isolated regime's fortified capital Nay Pyi Taw yesterday after which the military junta allowed him to meet the opposition leader.
Speculation is rife that the No.2 man in the junta, Vice Senior General Maung Aye, who has been identified by the opposition to be one general who doesn't want to shoot protesters met Aung San Suu Kyi a few days earlier. However, many Burmese are still not ready to accept that this is true.
Meanwhile, diplomatic sources claimed that Russia wants to see a compromise in Burma but the main obstacle remains the head of junta Senior General Than Shwe.
" Russia views Than Shwe as a problem," said a diplomatic source.
The military junta has come up with a condition and wants Aung San Suu Kyi should speak out to stop the anti-government demonstrations, sources added.
2:50 p.m.
Everyone is a leader: Sayadaw U Gamira
Everyone in Burma is a leader and should individually take to the streets in protest against the junta, said Sayadaw (abbot) U Gamira, whom the junta is searching, told Mizzima while on the run.
"The people should not wait for leaders to lead them, everyone should be a leader in their own right. We have to be individually involved and lead. It is important for everyone to lead at this time. The monks have done a lot and many are now thrown into jails and interrogation camps. And many have to sacrifice their lives," Sayadaw told Mizzima.
"By coming to monasteries in uniforms and arms and guarding the monks, they [the soldiers] are showing the world what they really are. They are not only dictators but terrorists," he added.
"If we cannot go out of the monasteries, there are things we can do inside the monasteries," he said.
September 30, 2007
Protests in Yangon
(Burmese Standard Time)1:30 p.m.
Blockade in Rangoon
As people gear up to stage another round of protests in Rangoon, authorities have put in place major blockades on Pyi Road. Streets and lanes along Pyi Road have been closed and movement of vehicles has been restricted to check protesters.
Meanwhile, it has begun to rain in Rangoon
Monks respond to crackdown by chanting loving kindness
September 30, 2007
Protests across Burma
(Burmese Standard Time)2:00 p.m
Prayer support for protesters in Kayah State
Local villagers in Dimawso and Pharuso Townships in Kayah State held prayers in support and solidarity to protesters in various parts of Burma, according to a Karenni youth group.
Meanwhile, the township authorities have ordered forming of Swan Arr Shin groups, where none exist, with not less than 20 people in each village, the Karenni student and youth group said in a statement.
As part of the junta's plan to organize anti-protest demonstrations in remote areas of the country to show Mr. Gambari that it has support from the public, authorities have ordered representatives from villages and towns in Kayah state to come for a mass rally in Loikaw, capital of Kayah state. At least 30 people from villages that have more than 50 households and 25 each from villagers that have less than 50 households were told to reach Loikaw town on Sunday, to support the junta's recently concluded National Convention.
1:45 p.m.Protests to continue in Mandalay
After severe restrictions on monks and guarding of monasteries to check the monks' movement, the authorities continue to persuade young monks and novices to return to their native places by giving them transportation fares. Protests by the monks in Mandalay as such has declined. Besides, as people are curiously observing the visit of Mr. Gambari to Burma, protest in Mandalay has come down.
However, locals said people are gearing up to stage a peaceful march this evening.
Though there are security forces still guarding the city, the security personnel are in a much more relaxed mood, said local residents.
Authorities have began to open the roads and reportedly the traffic remains normal.
Regiment 99 has been entrusted to oversee the security situation and to guard the monasteries in Aung Myay Thar Zan Township while regiment 33 is responsible for security in Chan Aye Thar Zan and Maha Aung Myay Townships.
"Authorities continue to arrest prominent leaders and keep a close watch on many others," a local residents said.
"People are observing Mr Gambari's visit," added the local.
12:20 p.m.Monks respond to crackdown by chanting loving kindness
Security forces in Mandalay have locked most of the Buddhist monasteries and restricted movement of monks, effectively barring the Buddhist clergy from marching on the streets in protest. However, though locked up inside the monasteries, monks continued their protest by chanting Metta Sutta (Buddhist words for loving kindness).
Meanwhile, civilians holding a big portrait of Gautama Buddha are gearing up for protests in Mandalay.
12 NoonMore security personnel deployed in Sittwe, Arakan
In order to prevent monks and civilians from protesting in Sittwe capital in Arakan state, the Burma Army has deployed more security personnel in key locations where protesters have previously staged demonstrations. Both police and soldiers have been posted in the town since last night.
"Soldiers have set up camps in the wunkabba ground in Dowin ward. They have made temporary tents. And there are about 100 policemen and 200 soldiers. The State Peace and Development Council office in Pyidawthar ward is also cordoned off with barbed wire. There are about 150 soldiers and policemen. Similarly, police and soldiers are also positioned at U Ottama Park. There are about 200 soldiers and policemen. The placements were made during the night. Monks now cannot even go for their usual Swan collection. They are being called and interrogated. The monks cannot move out anywhere," a local resident told Mizzima.
Though the authorities yesterday put on show the riot police exercising at a public ground, about 80 monks and more than 3000 civilians continued to march on the streets in protest in the evening.
Local residents explaining the security situation in Sittwe however, failed to predict whether a similar protest would be held today.
Monks Sentenced to Six Years Imprisonment;
Rangoon, Mandalay Locked Down by Troops
September 29, 2007—Streets in Rangoon and Mandalay were relatively quiet on Saturday, following three bloody days in which at least 10 protesters were gunned down, according to state-run media, and scores of monks and civilians were beaten and arrested by security forces.
However, members of Burma's opposition groups say as many as 200 people may have been killed in the standoff between monks, pro-democracy demonstrators and security forces. Many hundreds of people were seriously injured.
Many corpses were taken to secret locations, according to opposition sources.
In Rangoon, as many as 1,000 monks have been imprisoned since a boycott on alms from the military government and its supporters was declared on September 17, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners based on the Thai-Burmese border.
The monks are being held in the notorious Insein Prison and the Government Technology Institute compound, located near the prison in north Rangoon, according to sources in Rangoon.
A senior monk who was taken to Insein Prison by authorities to talk to the monks said they were stripped of their robes and are now wearing prison clothing. Some monks have already been sentenced to six years imprisonment by a specially convened court, he said.
Throughout the day scattered protesters numbering in the dozens to several hundred, mostly young and bold, played hit-and-run games with security forces in Rangoon.
"Some young people appeared on the streets, holding fighting peacock flags and wearing arm bands. When the army trucks come, they run away," said one resident.
The authorities, who clearly have control of Rangoon, fired tear gas in reply to groups who dared to venture out, and there were numerous arrests.
There is some hope among protesters that Sunday may see larger demonstrations to take advantage of the presence of UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who arrived in Rangoon on Saturday. Opposition forces are hopeful some type of dialogue can begin with the junta with Gambari as mediator. Authorities maintain a heavy presence around many of the most active monasteries in Rangoon and Mandalay. Many shopping malls, businesses, grocery stores and public parks are closed.
Ngwe Kyar Yan Monastery in Rangoon, the scene of a bloody overnight attack in which about 200 monks were detained early Thursday morning, has since been looted by army troops, according to sources close to the monastery. Everything of value was carted away, including scores of Buddha statues. The head of one of the largest Buddhas, embedded with valuable jewels, was cut off.
Meanwhile the price of basic food in Rangoon is increasing hour by hour. Some retail shops say rice stocks are very low. "I have rice to sell for only two or three days," said one shop owner. A dusk to dawn curfew in Rangoon and Mandalay has made life very difficult for the people.
Authorities cut Internet service within the country on Friday and phone service has been sporadic, further isolating residents.
The largest demonstration in the country on Saturday occurred in Kyaukpadaung in Mandalay Division when about 1,000 monks led an estimated 30,000 people in a peaceful march despite the heavy presence of security forces and military troops.
Sources say a disinformation campaign consisting of counter-demonstrations organized by the Union Solidarity and Development Association, a junta-backed group, has forced people from Kyaukpadaung, Myingyan and Nyaung Oo to demonstrate in support of the junta crackdown.
Over the past weeks, leaders and members of the National League for Democracy and other opposition groups in Rangoon, Mandalay, Magwe division and Arakan state have been arrested by local authorities, essentially decimating the ranks of the political opposition. Thand Nwe Oo, a youth leader of the NLD who was arrested in Thaingangyun Township is 6-months pregnant, said a source.
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