Monks Demonstrate in Rangoon

Some 200 monks demonstrated peacefully in Thanlyin, Rangoon, on the night of 20 August to protest the authorities’ order to monasteries in Thanlyin not to allow monks to venture outside at night, reports a monk from Rangoon.

The order was issued by Mayaka, the Thanlyin Township administration, and sent to all monasteries in the township on 19 August through the township monk council.

After the order was issued by the authority, over 200 monks from several monasteries came out during the night and gathered in a garden in downtown Thanlyin to protest the government’s edict.

The peaceful demonstration was completed at 2 a.m. on 21 August, with no action having been taken by government authorities during the protest.

The Thanlyin Township authority likely issued the order to the monasteries in order to restrict monks who may have become involved in the expected demonstrations against the government’s recent fuel price increase, said the monk.