Myanmar Blames Suu Kyi for Unrest

Members of Myanmar pro-democracy group hold placards and a photograph of their leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi as they shout slogans during a demonstration in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007, against the military regime of the country.(AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

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YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar's military junta accused detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's political party of inciting unrest and instigating Buddhist monks to take part in protests over price hikes, state media reported Saturday.

The regime also claimed that pro-democracy groups outside Myanmar and foreign media were deliberately spreading false information to destabilize the government, comparing the current situation to mass protests in 1988 when thousands of demonstrators were believed killed by security forces.

"Internal and external destructive elements are inciting a period of civil unrest like the one in 1988," the New Light of Myanmar newspaper said. "It has been found that foreign broadcasting stations are launching political propaganda and exaggerated news reports on the demonstrations with the intent of misleading the public."

The report comes as Buddhist monks in northern Myanmar, angry at being beaten up for protesting fuel price rises, smashed up a shop belonging to supporters of the military government, witnesses said.

The destruction Thursday night in the town of Pakokku came just hours after monks held a group of officials captive at a monastery for several hours before releasing them, also to protest their rough treatment during a march a day earlier.

Wednesday's demonstration was the latest in a string of protests triggered by a 500 percent rise in government-set fuel prices, but one of the first in which the country's monks took part. Civilian supporters of the government kicked and beat the monks and soldiers fired shots into the air, witnesses said.

Myanmar's rulers tolerate little dissent and often crack down on activists.

In a case unrelated to the price protests, six labor activists received prison sentences of up to 28 years for organizing a seminar at a U.S. Embassy center earlier this year, a defense lawyer said Saturday.

All six were found guilty Friday of inciting "hatred or contempt" for the government, lawyer Aung Thein said. Some also were convicted of having links to illegal associations and immigration violations.

The six — all in their 20s — had planned to discuss labor rights at the U.S. Embassy's American Center in Yangon, the country's biggest city, but the plans were canceled after a few participants were arrested.

Thurein Aung, Wai Lin, Myo Min and Kyaw Win were sentenced to 28 years in prison by a Western District court. Nyi Nyi Zaw and Kyaw Kyaw were given 20-year sentences.

A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy could not be reached for immediate comment.

Historically, monks in Myanmar have been at the forefront of protests, first against British colonialism and later military dictatorship, and played a prominent part in the failed 1988 pro-democracy rebellion that sought an end to military rule, imposed since 1962.

The junta held general elections in 1990, but refused to honor the results when Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won. Suu Kyi has been detained under house arrest for more than 11 years.

The monks' actions highlighted strong popular discontent with the military regime, even after the recent protests had appeared to be winding down. The junta's suppression of the recent demonstrations has drawn worldwide criticism, with President Bush raising the issue publicly Friday for the second time this week.