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Myanmar's junta ratchets up pressure on monks

A South Korean protester holds a banner during a rally against Myanmar's junta near the Myanmar embassy in Seoul yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Myanmar's military leaders stepped up pressure on monks who spearheaded pro-democracy rallies, saying yesterday that weapons had been seized from Buddhist monasteries and threatening to punish all violators of the law.

The government also announced dozens of new arrests, defying global outrage and new sanctions, although the state press trumpeted the release of monks and demonstrators ahead of a UN Security Council meeting to discuss how to handle the junta following its crackdown on street protests.

Security Council members -- under pressure to condemn the military regime after 13 people were killed in its drive to end the escalating pro-democracy rallies -- were to meet today to debate a draft statement on Myanmar.

The New Light of Myanmar newspaper -- a mouthpiece of the junta -- said yesterday that more than half of the 2,171 people arrested after the biggest anti-government protests in nearly two decades had been released, repeating figures given late on Saturday on state TV.

Activists shout slogans while holding a portrait of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a demonstration in front of the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok yesterday. PHOTO: AP

Authorities also took in 533 monks for questioning "to differentiate between real monks and bogus monks," the paper wrote.

"Out of those taken, 398 monks have been sent back to their respective monasteries," it said.

"Monks must adhere to the laws of God and the government," the paper wrote. "If they violate those laws, action could be taken against them."

The paper also said recent raids on monasteries had turned up guns, knives and ammunition, though it was not yet clear to whom they belonged.

In addition, 78 more people suspected of involvement in the rallies were being questioned by investigators, it said.

Security eased in Yangon yesterday. Some roadblocks were removed and visitors began trickling back to the heavily guarded Shwedagon and Sule pagodas. Uniformed troops were keeping a low profile on the streets.

Malaysia yesterday urged the regime to quickly hold unconditional talks with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi before the world pushes harder for political change.

The comments by Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar followed a warning from the US that it would push for UN sanctions against Myanmar if it fails to move toward democracy.

The junta's propaganda machine, meanwhile, continued to claim massive rallies across the country, allegedly in support of the government. The New Light of Myanmar said demonstrators denounced the recent protests "instigated" by some monks and members of Aung San Suu Kyi's party. It reported four rallies in central and northwestern Myanmar, attended by 7,500, 19,000, 20,000 and 30,000 people.

Such rallies are widely believed to be stage-managed by the government, with every family in the district forced to contribute members.

Also see story:
Pakistan and Myanmar: A tale of two military dictatorships

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