Novice monks stand with their alms bowls in Rangoon [Photo: Reuters]
Three Monks Died in Demonstrations,
Says Sanga Group
By Shah Paung January 28, 2008
Three monks died in last September’s demonstrations and nine are still missing, according to the Alliance of All Burma Buddhist Monks (AABBM).
Only one of the dead monks was identified—U Thilavantha, of Yuzana Kyaunghtai Monastery, Myitkyina, capital of Kachin State. The other two, unidentified monks, were from Ngwe Kyar Yan monastery in Rangoon’s South Okkalapa Township and Thar Du Monastery in Rangoon’s Kyeemyindine Township.
U Thilavantha was a teacher at the Myitkina monastery, which was raided by security forces on September 25. He was beaten and tortured and died in Myitkyina Hospital
The Alliance said 54 monks and seven nuns were arrested by Burmese authorities during last September’s demonstrations. The list of those killed, missing or arrested is not complete, however, the Alliance stressed.
Figures collated by the exile-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) state that 95 monks and 10 nuns were arrested.
During September’s demonstrations, more than 50 monasteries across the country were raided and searched by Burmese troops and security forces, who often plundered the premises. Two Rangoon monasteries were closed down, the Alliance said.
Apart for the arrests, about 10 monks were dismissed from their university studies. Some 15 fled the country.
One of the arrested monks, 29-year-old U Gambira, a leader of the AABBM group, has been charged with high treason, a capital offence carrying the death sentence or life imprisonment. He was seized from his hiding place in Kyaukse, central Burma, in early November.
Three monks died in last September’s demonstrations and nine are still missing, according to the Alliance of All Burma Buddhist Monks (AABBM).
Only one of the dead monks was identified—U Thilavantha, of Yuzana Kyaunghtai Monastery, Myitkyina, capital of Kachin State. The other two, unidentified monks, were from Ngwe Kyar Yan monastery in Rangoon’s South Okkalapa Township and Thar Du Monastery in Rangoon’s Kyeemyindine Township.
U Thilavantha was a teacher at the Myitkina monastery, which was raided by security forces on September 25. He was beaten and tortured and died in Myitkyina Hospital
The Alliance said 54 monks and seven nuns were arrested by Burmese authorities during last September’s demonstrations. The list of those killed, missing or arrested is not complete, however, the Alliance stressed.
Figures collated by the exile-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) state that 95 monks and 10 nuns were arrested.
During September’s demonstrations, more than 50 monasteries across the country were raided and searched by Burmese troops and security forces, who often plundered the premises. Two Rangoon monasteries were closed down, the Alliance said.
Apart for the arrests, about 10 monks were dismissed from their university studies. Some 15 fled the country.
One of the arrested monks, 29-year-old U Gambira, a leader of the AABBM group, has been charged with high treason, a capital offence carrying the death sentence or life imprisonment. He was seized from his hiding place in Kyaukse, central Burma, in early November.
Anti-regime Poster Campaign in Arakan State
By Saw Yan Naing January 28, 2008
Despite tightened security, dissident activists in Arakan State’s Taunggok Township launched an anti-government poster campaign early on Monday, according to local sources.
A pro-democracy activist told The Irrawaddy that the campaigners affixed posters in the city’s downtown hospitals, markets and crowded places, calling for the release of all political prisoners, Buddhist monks and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The posters also urged the military junta to stop arresting dissidents and to start a dialogue with opposition groups for national reconciliation in Burma, according to the activist. They also demanded respect for human rights.
The authorities were now busy removing the posters, the activist said.
The poster campaign was launched despite the presence over the past week of about 30 armed security guards around pagodas and markets.
Moe Naing Soe, a member of the National League for Democracy, said security forces had also been reinforced near highways and city tea shops.
Uniformed police and security forces equipped with batons and other weapons were also being beefed up in Sittwe, capital of Arakan State, a local resident reported. The security presence was particularly strong around the city’s monasteries.
Thousands of Buddhist monks demonstrated in Sittwe in September against the sharp increases in the price of fuel and other commodities. Two men arrested in Taunggok Township on January 22 for holding a demonstration calling for democracy and the release of Suu Kyi will go on trial on February 5, local sources said. The two were identified as Kalar Shwe, aka Than Htay, and Zaw Naing.
Despite tightened security, dissident activists in Arakan State’s Taunggok Township launched an anti-government poster campaign early on Monday, according to local sources.
A pro-democracy activist told The Irrawaddy that the campaigners affixed posters in the city’s downtown hospitals, markets and crowded places, calling for the release of all political prisoners, Buddhist monks and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The posters also urged the military junta to stop arresting dissidents and to start a dialogue with opposition groups for national reconciliation in Burma, according to the activist. They also demanded respect for human rights.
The authorities were now busy removing the posters, the activist said.
The poster campaign was launched despite the presence over the past week of about 30 armed security guards around pagodas and markets.
Moe Naing Soe, a member of the National League for Democracy, said security forces had also been reinforced near highways and city tea shops.
Uniformed police and security forces equipped with batons and other weapons were also being beefed up in Sittwe, capital of Arakan State, a local resident reported. The security presence was particularly strong around the city’s monasteries.
Thousands of Buddhist monks demonstrated in Sittwe in September against the sharp increases in the price of fuel and other commodities. Two men arrested in Taunggok Township on January 22 for holding a demonstration calling for democracy and the release of Suu Kyi will go on trial on February 5, local sources said. The two were identified as Kalar Shwe, aka Than Htay, and Zaw Naing.
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