Monks brace for crackdown

25.9.2007. 17:22:18

Burma officials in Rangoon have used loudspeakers to warn against new anti-junta protests, a day after Buddhist monks led 100,000 people in the streets.

Fears of a repeat of 1988's bloody crackdown by Burma's ruling generals grew today after the junta threatened action against monks at the centre of the demonstrations.

"We warn the monks and the people not to participate in protest marches," local government officials shouted into loudspeakers from at least two trucks circling around the nation's commercial hub.

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"We will take action under the existing law," they warned, echoing threats carried in state media since late yesterday.

More protests are expected today, again led by the monks whose revered status has made them rallying figures for public anger that erupted more than one month ago after a crippling hike in fuel prices.

Warnings

Earlier today, Burma's state media warned monks to end their protests and stay out of politics, and accused foreign media of fuelling the unrest.

"All the members of the Sangha (clergy) residing in the Union of Myanmar (Burma) are directed to avoid getting involved in party politics and instigation," the official New Light of Myanmar said.

The warnings in the newspaper, a government mouthpiece, echoed threats of a crackdown carried on state television late yesterday.

State media reported that protests had taken place in seven of the nation's 14 provinces, and accused foreign media of instigating the marches.

"Some foreign media telecasting the protests aim to cause unrest in Myanmar," the paper said.

'Soldiers ready for crackdown’

The Burma Campaign UK said its sources in Burma's main city Rangoon had reported soldiers being ordered to shave their heads in possible preparation for infiltrating the massed ranks of Buddhist monks marching for an end to 45 years of unbroken military rule.

The London-based activist group said the junta had also ordered 3,000 maroon monastic robes, again with the probable intention of having soldiers masquerade as monks to stir up trouble and create a pretext for a crackdown.

In 1988, the last time the Southeast Asian nation's people took to the streets in the tens of thousands, agents provocateurs were seen stirring up the crowds, thereby giving the military the excuse to come in and restore order.

As many as 3,000 people are thought to have been killed.

Arrests

Although more than 150 people have been arrested since August 19 in protests initially against shock fuel price rises, there was no sign of any soldiers or security forces during yesterday's massive monk-led demonstrations in central Rangoon.

Australian Burmese community

Australia's Burmese community says it's only a matter of time before protests by Buddhist monks and civilians in the Burmese city of Rangoon turn bloody.

Australia Burma Council spokesperson Dr Myint Cho said the situation could escalate if the ruling military tried to provoke an aggressive response from the protesting civilians and monks, which it has been known to do.

"The military regime has always used force to crack down," he said.

"This time I really worry about the possible crackdown in the near future," he said.

Downer warns of brutal suppression

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer also warned the protests could turn violent.

"There's a risk that they'll move against the (protest) leaders and subject them to very harsh treatment," Mr Downer told reporters at the UN summit on climate in New York.