Police arrest hundreds of protesting monks in Burma

[seemslikeadream]

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/09/26/burma-protest.html

Police arrest hundreds of protesting monks in Burma
Last Updated: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 | 6:48 AM ET
CBC News
Buddhist monks were carted away in trucks on Wednesday as police and security guards in Burma, also known as Myanmar, moved in to break up anti-government marches.

About 300 monks and other activists were arrested in the large city of Rangoon, also known as Yangon, eyewitnesses and activists said. Tear gas and warning shots were fired to try to disperse the crowds that had gathered in front of the city's famed Shwedagon Pagoda.

At least 100 monks refused to obey orders to leave, while a mob of people set fire to a motorcycle in front of the pagoda.

The southeast Asian country's ruling military junta on Tuesday night banned all public gatherings of more than five people and has imposed a curfew of 9 p.m.

Police and army troops in full battle gear surrounded the pagoda in Rangoon on Wednesday. They also gathered in the Burmese city of Mandalay, barring hundreds of nuns and monks from entering the pagoda there.

"We are so afraid, the soldiers are ready to fire on civilians at any time," a man near the pagoda said, asking that his name not be used for fear of reprisals.


The fates of the actor and poet were not confirmed, but there were reports from protesters that they were also arrested.

The presence of the army and police are the first signs of force after 10 straight days of demonstrations across Burma.


On Monday night, the country's religious affairs minister appeared on state television and accused the monks of being manipulated by domestic and foreign enemies. Brig.-Gen. Thuyra Myint Maung suggested if senior monks do not restrain themselves, the government would take action. He did not outline what that action might be.


AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME AROUND
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1896963
Burma is on the Brink of Revolution
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1893560

[BridgeTheGap]

1. Don't mess with the monks!

What a crying shame!

[Bassic]

2. The police better be very careful.

If they mess with the monks too much, the shit is going to hit the fan.

[annabanana]

3. This is bad.

Once they have those arrested out of view, they will not be dealt with lightly, I fear.