Monks set fire to government cars

Sep 06, 2007 (DVB)—A group of monks from Pakokku’s central Mahavithutarama monastery have set fire to four government vehicles after locking a group of officials inside their compound.

The officials, who reportedly travelled to the monastery to apologise for the bashing, arrest and disrobing of three monks yesterday, include Magwe division’s religious affairs representative and the chairman of the Magwe Peace and Development Council.

Soldiers in Pakokku fired warning shots at a group of about 600 monks who staged a protest over high fuel and commodity prices yesterday, before bashing bystanders and making several arrests.

Many of the monks involved in the protest were from the central Mahavithutarama monastery. When the officials arrived at the monastery at about 10:30 this morning, they were locked inside the compound by the monks in an apparent act of revenge. The monks then set fire to four of the vehicles the officials arrived in, eyewitnesses told DVB.

“Four vehicles have already been completely burnt and there are two left. There is a crowd of more than 1000 people standing around the monastery and cheering on the monks,” one eyewitness said.

“So far no fire department vehicles or soldiers have been deployed yet,” the eyewitness said.

Attempts to contact the monks inside the monastery have so far been unsuccessful and it is unclear how long they plan to hold the officials.

Reporting by Aye Naing