Monks march in Myanmar amid tight security at temples

AP

Posted: 2007-09-18 03:32:33

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) – Hundreds of Buddhist monks marched peacefully in Myanmar’s largest city on Tuesday as part of a rare wave of anti-government protests that have rocked the country over the past month, witnesses said.

More than 400 monks, chanting prayers and walking in rows of two and three, were briefly stopped by plainclothes officers as they headed toward the Shwedagon pagoda in central Yangon, said witnesses, who refused to be named for fear of reprisals.

The monks were then allowed to continue their march, the witnesses said.

The monks had given authorities a Monday deadline to apologize for beating hundreds of them two weeks ago as they marched peacefully in Pakokku, a center of Buddhist learning, to protest rising fuel and consumer prices. The apology never came.

As a result, monks threatened to launch nationwide marches Tuesday, to cut off contact with the military and their families, and to refuse alms from them – a humiliating gesture that would embarrass the junta.

The anti-government protests began Aug. 19 after the government raised fuel prices by as much as 500 percent, putting the squeeze on already impoverished citizens. The protests have continued despite the detention of more than 100 demonstrators and the rough treatment of others.

Monks have been at the forefront of political protests in Myanmar since British colonial times. Because they are so revered by the public, repressing them is politically risky. The junta is wary that demonstrations could gain momentum if monks keep protesting.

Tuesday’s march also comes on the 19th anniversary of the coup in Myanmar, in which the current junta took over after crushing a failed pro-democracy rebellion that sought an end to military rule, imposed since 1962.

The junta held general elections in 1990, but refused to honor the results when pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party won. Suu Kyi has been detained under house arrest for more than 11 years.

Before the march started, witnesses said plainclothes police and junta supporters could be seen guarding entrances to key temples in Myanmar’s biggest city, Yangon. At the Shwedagon pagoda, some visitors were being turned away and those who entered had their bags searched, witnesses said.

Authorities also expanded efforts to cut phone lines used by activists and others they suspect of causing unrest, activists said on condition of anonymity, also citing fear of reprisals.

On Monday, more than 500 monks held a peaceful protest in Kyaukpadaung town, about 460 kilometers (285 miles) northwest of Yangon, a resident said by telephone.

The monks dispersed after praying at a temple and none were arrested, the resident said, also speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

The first confirmed demonstration by monks in the latest round of protests took place Aug. 28 in Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State in western Myanmar. It got less attention than a second one on Sep. 6 in the northern town of Pakokku, which was cut short when troops fired warning shots and junta supporters manhandled some marchers.

In response, young monks angry at their mistreatment briefly took officials hostage, torched their vehicles and later smashed a shop and a house belonging to junta supporters.