Quote:

Military junta in Burma deploy soldiers, police
Article from: AAP


September 26, 2007 12:00am

MILITARY-ruled Burma deployed armed soldiers and riot police to key pagodas and monasteries around the main city of Rangoon today, in a bid to prevent Buddhist monks from staging anti-junta protests, witnesses said.

Security forces were deployed around the Shwedagon Pagoda, where monks have begun their marches over the past eight days, as well as the Sule Pagoda, a key rallying point in the city centre, witnesses said.

The pagodas were not closed, but everyone was searched before being allowed to enter.

Security was also tight around key monasteries in the city, apparently in a bid to prevent the monks from assembling, witnesses said.

Reuters later cited witnesses as saying truckloads of troops and riot police had arrived outside at least six big Rangoon monasteries today.

Earlier, the European Union advised the junta it would face tougher EU sanctions if it uses force to crush the growing pro-democracy protests.

In a statement issued by its Portuguese presidency, the 27-nation bloc said: "The EU further underlines to the authorities ... that it will reinforce and strengthen the existing sanctions regime, should they resort to using violence against the unarmed and peaceful demonstrators."

US President George W Bush earlier announced at the United Nations he was widening financial sanctions against Burma and a visa ban on members of the junta, their backers and families.

Existing EU sanctions include a travel ban on Burma's leaders, an arms embargo, and a ban on military co-operation with the south-east Asian country.

The EU statement urged Burma's authorities to pursue genuine reconciliation and negotiation, and urged "all those with influence on the military government to bring that influence to bear to ensure that the authorities respond in a non-violent manner".

A sea of 100,000 people have marched in Burma, defying the junta's warnings that force could be used to end the protests.

Some 30,000 monks again took to the streets of Burma's main city Rangoon, their leaders chanting "democracy, democracy".

About 70,000 supporters joined them.

In a gesture of defiance, some waved the bright red fighting peacock flag, the emblem of the student unions that spearheaded a mass uprising in 1988. That rebellion was eventually crushed by the army with the loss of an estimated 3000 lives.

Some 700 staged a similar show of defiance in the second largest city of Mandalay.

Ominously, vehicles mounted with loudspeakers toured the city earlier, blaring warnings of action under a law allowing the use of military force to break up illegal protests.

"People are not to follow, encourage or take part in these marches. Action will be taken against those who violate this order," they said.

The warnings also accused monks of instigating protest marches "with intent to incite unrest".

"If the monks go against the rules and regulations in the authority of the Buddhist teachings, we will take action under the existing law," Religion Minister Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung warned.

State media bluntly ordered the monks to stay clear of politics and accused foreign media of instigating marches. No security forces were visible.

The latest protest is the eighth consecutive day of protests led by the monks.

"We have to be united," chanted about 2000 monks leading the march from the golden Shwedagon Pagoda.

"The protest is not merely for the wellbeing of people but also for monks struggling for democracy and for people to have an opportunity to determine their own future," one monk in Rangoon said. "People do not tolerate the military government any longer."

The monks led the crowd in chanting: "May we be free of torture, may there be peace in hearts and minds as our kindness spreads around the world."

Elsewhere, Burma's most famous comedian, Zaganar, who had thrown his support behind Buddhist monks leading anti-government protests, was arrested at his home during the night.

"Zaganar was arrested around 1:30am at his home," because he brought food and water to the monks to support the protests, a friend told AFP.

Zaganar, along with other prominent movie stars and artists, had vocally urged the public to support the monks leading the most potent protests against the military regime in nearly two decades.

On Monday and Tuesday, he delivered food and water to monks as they prepared for their protests that drew 100,000 people into the streets.

Over the weekend, he had given interviews on short-wave radio broadcasts into Burma from outside the country, urging the public to rally behind the monks.

"The monks are the ones out praying for us, while we're at home watching TV. I'm ashamed of us," Zaganar said.

"We, the members of the entertainment industry, are feeding ourselves with money spent on us by the people.

"Therefore their troubles are our troubles.
from heraldsun.com.au"

Things are looking grim with soldiers preventing peaceful protest.

Thais warned not to travel to Burma

BANGKOK, The Tourism and Sports Ministry has issued a travel warning, urging Thais to avoid travelling to Burma due to the internal problems there.

Deputy Minister Nut Intarapan said on Wednesday that Thai travellers, for both business and leisure trips, should postpone their travelling until the situation improves.

He said the ministry has ordered Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Tourist Assistance Centre to provide information for tourists as well as monitor the matter in order to prevent any damage.

"I advise all travellers who plan to visit Burma to discuss with TAT prior to making a decision," said Nut.

The Nation

Thai army set to evacuate Thais in Myanmar

BANGKOK, The situation in Myanmar is not yet critical but the Royal Thai Army is ready to evacuate Thais in Myanmar immediately when it is needed," stated Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, Army Chief and chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS).

Gen. Sonthi added that according to the report of Thailand's deputy military attache in Myanmar, the Thai embassy to Myanmar has already identified Thais who are staying in Myanmar, as well as their living places.

The assistance measures have been put in place to evacuate Thai nationals if needed.

Speaking about the situation in Myanmar, also known as Burma, after the military government imposed a curfew and banned gatherings of more than five people Tuesday, Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um said Thai domestic airlines haven't been affected and flights to Myanmar are operating as usual.

However, any change depends on Thai security agencies' evaluation of the current situation. Thai government has closely monitored the situation to evacuate Thais in Myanmar if they need to travel back home.

Civil Aviation Department chief Chaisak Angkasuwan said that the department hasn't suspended any flights to Myanmar. Both Thai Airways International and Thai AirAsia offer flights there. Any cancellation relies on the government's policy and security agencies.

AirAsia CEO Tassapon Bijleveld affirmed that the no-frills airline offers normal daily flights from Bangkok to Yangon and from Yangon to Bangkok.

The Airlines officials in Yangon said the situation is not worrying and there is no need to cancel flights to Yangon.

The number of passengers to Myanmar is recorded at 80 per cent on average, with most travellers being businesspersons and tourists.

Mr. Prasong Tonmaneewattana, Director-General of Marine Department said that marine goods transport between Thailand and Myanmar, at the border crossings in Ranong and Three Pagodas Pass in Kanchanaburi, is still active, with a high volume of shipments from customers.

Cancellation of water transport services depends on the circumstances in Myanmar.

However, from Wednesday, Royal Thai Navy patrol craft will also help monitoring the situation closely, he said.

TNA

Quote: 80-year-old disabled monk protester 'bashed'

From correspondents in Rangoon

September 26, 2007 08:25pm

AT least 17 Buddhist monks were injured when Burma's security forces violently dispersed their peaceful anti-junta protest today, witnesses said.

All 17 were injured around midday when police baton-charged a group of monks and mainly young protesters near the Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar's holiest shrine, the witnesses said.

Among the wounded was an 80-year-old monk who witnesses said was beaten about the head by security forces.

The elderly monk has participated in the daily anti-junta protests in Rangoon although he cannot walk and has to be carried.

Hospital officials have refused to comment on any injuries stemming from the crackdown.

Despite the violence, tens of thousands of people remained on the streets of Yangon, scattered across the city, witnesses said.

In the outlying township of Ahlone, about 300 monks protested but were blocked by armed soldiers who began firing over their heads, witnesses said.

The monks urged the people to stay away from the protest, but when the bullets started whizzing overhead, hundreds of people sat on the ground around the monks in a show of solidarity, the witnesses said.

"I felt so sorry when I saw this scene. I've never seen this kind of violence. I feel so sorry for the monks," one woman said by telephone from Ahlone.

At the Sule Pagoda in downtown Rangoon, security forces tried to use tear gas and warning shots to disperse the crowd, but thousands kept returning to taunt the soldiers.

As the day wore on, some protesters began to throw stones at the soldiers, who responded with more warning shots, witnesses said.

At least one man was seen being carried away after he was injured when thousands of people began running from the tear gas.

Lets hope this settles quickly and peacefully.