Burma looks for protest leaders, admits detaining hundreds

[sabra]

Source: USA Today

RANGOON, Burma (AP) — Burma said Friday it had detained hundreds of Buddhist monks during last week's bloody crackdown of pro-democracy protests, and that security forces were searching for four of the monks who led the demonstrations.

Of more than 500 monks who were detained, 109 are still being questioned, the government said on state-run television.

The junta on Sept. 26-27 crushed the demonstrations that began in mid-August, inspired largely by thousands of monks, who are revered in Burma, marching in the streets. The government says 10 people were killed in the crackdown but dissident groups put the death toll at more than 200.

A government official met senior monks in Rangoon on Friday and asked them to "expose four monks who are at large, who took the leading role in the protest," the announcement said. The names of the four were given to senior clergy, it added.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-10-05-burma_N.htm?csp=34

[graphixtech]

1. Stand with the Burmese people!

The people and monks of Burma are in crisis and in urgent need of international pressure.

Stand with the Burmese People (petition)
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/tf.php?cl

"The monks, activists and their supporters are the true heroes
in the current stage of Burmese history. They have done their job,
and they want the international community to grab this opportunity
to help create a free and democratic Burma."
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=8802

"People in Burma are determined to continue their struggle for
freedom and human rights with or without international support.
People are now committed to bring about systemic change in Burma
even if they have to sacrifice their precious lives.
Therefore, the UN-led international community must show its
support of the people openly and stand up alongside the people."
(Oct. 5 Article)
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=8919

UN Security Council Must Act Now on Burma
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=8921

Great links for local reporting on the current situation in Burma:

Irrawaddy News
http://www.irrawaddy.org

Burma News
http://www.mizzima.com/

"Asean leaders know if the situation in Myanmar deteriorates ...
there will come a breaking point where much more brutal force will
be used to put their people down"
—Singapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew

edit: The number reported of monks detained or killed has spiralled downwords daily. Are we to believe the shocking initial, independent reports or these new numbers by the government controlled media?