Monks Might Resume Demonstrations in
Late October, Says Leading Monk
By Wai Moe October 21, 2007
A leading monk—one of four being hunted down by the junta—told The Irrawaddy from his hiding place that monk-led demonstrations may resume in Burma in late October, in spite of at least 100 monks killed during pro-democracy demonstrations and about 1,200 monks arrested.
“Our people are in poverty," said U Obhasa. "How can monks be silent about the real situation in the country?"
“The situation is terrible for monks," he said. "But we still fight on for the Dhamma. We will resume our activities for Dhamma soon, perhaps in late October. Dhamma (justice) will win over Ad-Dhamma (injustice).”
U Obhasa said life is uprooted, and he moves from safe house to safe house, sometimes daily.
"I have not been able to sleep for weeks," he said. "Our future is not certain even for the next few hours."
U Obhasa said many monks are still missing and their whereabouts are unknown.
About 50 nuns were arrested during the junta’s crackdown on the Sangha in Rangoon, which started on September 26. He said he believes reports that some nuns were raped and sexually harassed by soldiers at detention centers.
"The soldiers are very crude,” he said.
Monks and monasteries in Rangoon and other cities remain the military regime's main target, said U Obhasa.
“If soldiers see a monk in a robe on the street, they will follow the monk,” he said.
Recently, the junta has displayed images of high ranking military officers in the state-run media, showing them supporting the Sangha with alms and other gifts, he said, but senior monks across Burma have been forced to accept such donations by the military. A leading Sangha group has instituted a countrywide boycott on accepting alms from members of the military, their families and supporters.
U Obhasa said a report of explosives being found in a monastery in Rangoon was untrue and simply military propaganda designed to confuse the public.
He said eight monks from Ngwe Kyar Yan Monastery in North Okkalapa Township in Rangoon were killed when security forces stormed the monastery overnight on September 26, leaving behind pools of blood on corridors and in rooms. Some reports claimed as many as 100 or more monks were killed, he said.
U Obhasa said he hoped the UN special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, and the international community can pressure the junta to find a middle ground with the pro-democracy movement, and he was disappointed with the positions of China and India on the struggle for democracy.
“They (China and India) only want to take goods from Burma," he said. "But they should help the suffering people of Burma’s freedom.”
Human rights groups say as many as 3,000 people have been detained as a result of the protests throughout the country. Detainees reportedly have been classified into three categories. In the A group are people who played a leading role in demonstrations or who have ties with the 88 Generation Students group or the National League for Democracy; in the B group are people who took part in mass demonstrations; and in the C group are people who supported the protesters.
By Wai Moe October 21, 2007
A leading monk—one of four being hunted down by the junta—told The Irrawaddy from his hiding place that monk-led demonstrations may resume in Burma in late October, in spite of at least 100 monks killed during pro-democracy demonstrations and about 1,200 monks arrested.
“Our people are in poverty," said U Obhasa. "How can monks be silent about the real situation in the country?"
“The situation is terrible for monks," he said. "But we still fight on for the Dhamma. We will resume our activities for Dhamma soon, perhaps in late October. Dhamma (justice) will win over Ad-Dhamma (injustice).”
U Obhasa said life is uprooted, and he moves from safe house to safe house, sometimes daily.
"I have not been able to sleep for weeks," he said. "Our future is not certain even for the next few hours."
U Obhasa said many monks are still missing and their whereabouts are unknown.
About 50 nuns were arrested during the junta’s crackdown on the Sangha in Rangoon, which started on September 26. He said he believes reports that some nuns were raped and sexually harassed by soldiers at detention centers.
"The soldiers are very crude,” he said.
Monks and monasteries in Rangoon and other cities remain the military regime's main target, said U Obhasa.
“If soldiers see a monk in a robe on the street, they will follow the monk,” he said.
Recently, the junta has displayed images of high ranking military officers in the state-run media, showing them supporting the Sangha with alms and other gifts, he said, but senior monks across Burma have been forced to accept such donations by the military. A leading Sangha group has instituted a countrywide boycott on accepting alms from members of the military, their families and supporters.
U Obhasa said a report of explosives being found in a monastery in Rangoon was untrue and simply military propaganda designed to confuse the public.
He said eight monks from Ngwe Kyar Yan Monastery in North Okkalapa Township in Rangoon were killed when security forces stormed the monastery overnight on September 26, leaving behind pools of blood on corridors and in rooms. Some reports claimed as many as 100 or more monks were killed, he said.
U Obhasa said he hoped the UN special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, and the international community can pressure the junta to find a middle ground with the pro-democracy movement, and he was disappointed with the positions of China and India on the struggle for democracy.
“They (China and India) only want to take goods from Burma," he said. "But they should help the suffering people of Burma’s freedom.”
Human rights groups say as many as 3,000 people have been detained as a result of the protests throughout the country. Detainees reportedly have been classified into three categories. In the A group are people who played a leading role in demonstrations or who have ties with the 88 Generation Students group or the National League for Democracy; in the B group are people who took part in mass demonstrations; and in the C group are people who supported the protesters.
State Media Call for Suu Kyi to Compromise in Talks with Junta
By The Associated Press October 21, 2007
Burma’s ruling junta stepped up its efforts to hold talks with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, issuing an unusual plea in state media Saturday for her to compromise in a bid for national reconciliation.
The push for discussions follows US President George W. Bush's announcement Friday that new sanctions would be imposed to punish the military-run government and its backers for a deadly crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators.
Expanding on sanctions imposed last month, Bush ordered the Treasury Department to freeze the US assets of additional members of the junta. He also acted to tighten controls on US exports to the country. In addition, Bush urged the Chinese and Indian governments to do more to pressure the government of neighboring Burma.
"The people of Burma are showing great courage in the face of immense repression," Bush said at the White House. "They are appealing for our help. We must not turn a deaf ear to their cries."
The state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper did not mention of the sanctions in its Saturday edition. Instead, it focused on trying to persuade Suu Kyi to participate in talks with the government.
The government announced earlier this month that the junta's leader, Snr-Gen Than Shwe, was willing to meet with Suu Kyi—but only if she meets certain conditions, including renouncing support for foreign countries' economic sanctions targeting the junta.
It remains unknown if Suu Kyi would accept the offer, which also called on her to give up what the junta called her support for "confrontation" and "utter devastation"—an apparent reference to the recent public protests, the largest in tightly controlled Burma in nearly two decades.
The regime accuses Suu Kyi and her party of working with other nations to sabotage the junta's own plans for a phased return to democracy.
In a lengthy commentary, the newspaper said the time was right for Suu Kyi to respond positively to the offer of talks "with a view to serving the interest of all."
"We are tired of watching a stalemate for a long time considering that we should not go on like this forever," the commentary said. "There should be some forms of compromise. If one side makes a concession, the other side should do so. The situation will get worse if both sides are arrogantly intransigent refusing to budge from their stand." The views in the commentary are believed to represent those of the junta.
Burma’s ruling junta stepped up its efforts to hold talks with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, issuing an unusual plea in state media Saturday for her to compromise in a bid for national reconciliation.
The push for discussions follows US President George W. Bush's announcement Friday that new sanctions would be imposed to punish the military-run government and its backers for a deadly crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators.
Expanding on sanctions imposed last month, Bush ordered the Treasury Department to freeze the US assets of additional members of the junta. He also acted to tighten controls on US exports to the country. In addition, Bush urged the Chinese and Indian governments to do more to pressure the government of neighboring Burma.
"The people of Burma are showing great courage in the face of immense repression," Bush said at the White House. "They are appealing for our help. We must not turn a deaf ear to their cries."
The state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper did not mention of the sanctions in its Saturday edition. Instead, it focused on trying to persuade Suu Kyi to participate in talks with the government.
The government announced earlier this month that the junta's leader, Snr-Gen Than Shwe, was willing to meet with Suu Kyi—but only if she meets certain conditions, including renouncing support for foreign countries' economic sanctions targeting the junta.
It remains unknown if Suu Kyi would accept the offer, which also called on her to give up what the junta called her support for "confrontation" and "utter devastation"—an apparent reference to the recent public protests, the largest in tightly controlled Burma in nearly two decades.
The regime accuses Suu Kyi and her party of working with other nations to sabotage the junta's own plans for a phased return to democracy.
In a lengthy commentary, the newspaper said the time was right for Suu Kyi to respond positively to the offer of talks "with a view to serving the interest of all."
"We are tired of watching a stalemate for a long time considering that we should not go on like this forever," the commentary said. "There should be some forms of compromise. If one side makes a concession, the other side should do so. The situation will get worse if both sides are arrogantly intransigent refusing to budge from their stand." The views in the commentary are believed to represent those of the junta.
White House Wants More Steps to Democracy
by JuntaBy Jennifer Loven/AP Writer October 21, 2007
The White House scoffed at Burma’s military regime’s moves to ease restrictions imposed after violently cracking down on pro-democracy demonstrators.
"The actions of the regime are ‘cosmetic.’ What we need are signs of serious intent to move toward a democratic transition," presidential press secretary Dana Perino said Saturday.
One day after President George W. Bush announced new penalties against the military-run government, the ruling junta said it was lifting a curfew and ending a ban on assembly.
"The lifting of the curfew is not a good sign, but a bad sign that the regime now feels confident that it has cleared the monasteries of dissidents by either jailing them or sending them to their home villages, and arrested all the major players in the demonstrations and sent into hiding or exile those they have not captured," Perino said.
The ruling generals also issued an unusual plea in state media for the detained opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, to compromise and hold talks with the government.
Bush says Burma needs to provide the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations access to political prisoners; allow Suu Kyi and other detained leaders to communicate with one another; and permit UN Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari to enter the country immediately.
"If the regime is serious about talking to Aung San Suu Kyi why have they not sent the special envoy to meet with her?" Perino asked. "Why have they not invited Gambari to come back? Why have they not invited the ICRC to visit?"
Expanding on punishments announced last month, Bush on Friday ordered the Treasury Department to freeze the US assets of additional members of the ruling generals and their cronies. He also acted to tighten controls on US exports to Burma. In addition, he urged China and India to do more to pressure the military regime.
Last month, tens of thousands of people turned out for rallies, which started as protests against fuel price increases and then grew into the largest show of dissent in decades.
The junta claims that 10 people were killed when troops opened fire on demonstrators to disperse them. Diplomats and dissidents say the death toll is much higher.
The White House scoffed at Burma’s military regime’s moves to ease restrictions imposed after violently cracking down on pro-democracy demonstrators.
"The actions of the regime are ‘cosmetic.’ What we need are signs of serious intent to move toward a democratic transition," presidential press secretary Dana Perino said Saturday.
One day after President George W. Bush announced new penalties against the military-run government, the ruling junta said it was lifting a curfew and ending a ban on assembly.
"The lifting of the curfew is not a good sign, but a bad sign that the regime now feels confident that it has cleared the monasteries of dissidents by either jailing them or sending them to their home villages, and arrested all the major players in the demonstrations and sent into hiding or exile those they have not captured," Perino said.
The ruling generals also issued an unusual plea in state media for the detained opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, to compromise and hold talks with the government.
Bush says Burma needs to provide the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations access to political prisoners; allow Suu Kyi and other detained leaders to communicate with one another; and permit UN Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari to enter the country immediately.
"If the regime is serious about talking to Aung San Suu Kyi why have they not sent the special envoy to meet with her?" Perino asked. "Why have they not invited Gambari to come back? Why have they not invited the ICRC to visit?"
Expanding on punishments announced last month, Bush on Friday ordered the Treasury Department to freeze the US assets of additional members of the ruling generals and their cronies. He also acted to tighten controls on US exports to Burma. In addition, he urged China and India to do more to pressure the military regime.
Last month, tens of thousands of people turned out for rallies, which started as protests against fuel price increases and then grew into the largest show of dissent in decades.
The junta claims that 10 people were killed when troops opened fire on demonstrators to disperse them. Diplomats and dissidents say the death toll is much higher.
No comments:
Post a Comment