Myanmar monk makes phone appeal to backers in NY

[cal04]

A leader of the Buddhist monks who have led street protests in Myanmar urged Americans on Friday to press for more international action to pressure the military junta toward dialogue with the opposition.

Speaking by phone from an undisclosed location in Myanmar to a public meeting at the Asia Society in New York, the monk was identified by organizers as "U Gambira," a name he took as leader of a group calling itself the All Burma Monks Alliance.

"The military junta is still arresting people at the Buddhist monasteries every night and every day," the monk was quoted as saying by Aung Din, a former political prisoner who translated the monk's remarks to the audience in New York.

"He said there are many soldiers surrounding the Buddhist monasteries and also in the streets," Aung Din said.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N05256175.htm

[maddezmom]

1. K&R

This should be posted in LBN. :)

[maddezmom]

2. Myanmar seeks alleged monk 'ringleaders'

Myanmar seeks alleged monk 'ringleaders' 19 minutes ago



YANGON, Myanmar - Myanmar's junta said Friday that hundreds of Buddhist monks were detained during its crackdown on pro-democracy activists and that it was hunting for four more clerics it described as ringleaders of the uprising.


The government insisted that most of the monks had already been freed, with only 109 still in custody, according to an official statement broadcast on state TV.

The junta's treatment of the Buddhist monks — who are revered in this deeply religious nation — is a key issue that could anger soldiers loyal to the military rulers.

Twenty-nine monks were suspected of being protest leaders and 25 of them were already in custody, state media said. It identified the monks still at large as U Kantiya, U Visaitta, U Awbatha and U Parthaka, but did not name their monasteries.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071006/ap_on_re_as/myanmar;_ylt=AqRZdRb82viIWS8n.Ezqd0pvaA8F