Junta-backed gangs foil protest plans, security tightened across Burma

Mizzima News: - Mungpi
Sat 25 Aug 2007

More activists were arrested and the Burmese military junta deployed pro-government gangs on the streets of Rangoon foiling the planned massive combined protest on Friday. The gangs of USDA members were arming themselves with knives and batons to thwart the demonstrators in Tamwe Township.

Plainclothes police and members of junta’s puppet civil organization – Union Solidarity and Development Association and Swan Arrshin – arrested a group of protesters, who were heading towards downtown Rangoon, activists told Mizzima.

“Daw San San Myint and some protesters marched towards downtown Rangoon. Not long after that I received a phone call saying that Daw San San Myint and some of the women protesters had been arrested,” an activist told Mizzima.

Though there were plans to join forces by the activists, who have in the last few days launched separate protests in various parts of Rangoon, and organize a massive protest, the plan was foiled as several hundred pro-junta gangs were deployed on the streets to stop them, he added.

“Regarding the demonstrations in Tamwe Township, USDA members, armed with knives and batons, are planning to use force. They have vowed to attack the demonstrators. Moreover, they are putting on NLD uniforms and plan to mingle with us and shout whatever slogans they want to shout and create confusion among us,” said Aung Naing, a 88 generation student leader, who is spearheading the protest over the increased fuel prices.

“Since we do not want to lose our activists, we have decided to withdraw our plan for today. But these people [USDA] are still waiting. There are as many as 200 to 300 of them at places where we announced to hold demonstrations. They don’t know that we have withdrawn our plans,” he added.

Activists yesterday announced to stage a massive protest on Friday by joining forces which have been protesting throughout the week in various parts of the city.

“Yesterday we announced that we would combine all the forces and stage a massive demonstration today. So today, there are no small demonstrations as everybody was ready to join the massive demonstration,” he added.

Following the announcement by the activists the government tightened security in the city.

“Last night there were truckloads of security personnel [Hlone Htain] doing the rounds. They are equipped with shields and armed with batons. We think they will still use civilians to stop us, but if there is commotion the security personnel [Hlone Htain] will intervene,” said an 88 generation student.

Beside tight security in Burma’s former capital city Rangoon, authorities have reportedly stepped up security in other parts of the country.

Earlier this morning, the Nation League for Democracy (NLD) branch chairman in Magwe division, central Burma, was called by authorities and was made to sign a document not to gather more than five people.

The NLD branch chairman, U Aung Soe, However refused to sign the document.

“Police in plainclothes have begun to keep a close watch on politicians. Even high school students are being monitored and security and there is heightened security inside schools. Authorities have ordered teachers to take care of the students and form security cells. The public is watching with great interest,” another resident of Magwe told Mizzima,

In Mandalay , the second largest city of Burma, eyewitnesses said truckloads of soldiers are doing the rounds on the 62nd and Science Road, where the old university main campus is located.

“I saw soldiers on big TE21 trucks patrolling the 62nd street and Science Road. An officer beside the driver was using a walkie-talkie,” an eyewitness told Mizzima.

In Myit Kyi Na, capital of Burma’s northern most Kachin state, local residents said security has been tightened with several soldiers positioned in important junctions.

Besides, security checks are being conducted on buses and other vehicles plying on highways in central Burma and connecting urban areas such as Mandalay, Sagaing, Meikhtila, and Monywa, a businessman who recently travelled in the area told Mizzima.

Back in Rangoon, veteran Burmese politician, Amyotharyee U Win Naing in an interview with Mizzima said, “Security is in place at all road junctions in Rangoon. From what we can see, we think these people [junta-backed] will pretend to be NLD members and disturb and foil the demonstration plans. I think they will take the form of NLD youth.”

However, activists vowed to continue with the protest against the massive fuel price hike that triggered an increase in bus fares and prices of other essential commodities.

“We will continue with the protest, but I don’t mean today. More and more people are joining us. We will continue with whatever we need to do for a nation-wide protest,” Ko Htin Kyaw, an activist who was arrested several times in the recent past for protesting against rising commodity prices, told Mizzima.