Myanmar monks end standoff, release local officials

Myanmar Buddhist monks are seen praying at Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon. Hundreds of Buddhist monks in Myanmar held a group of local and security officials hostage for several hours, after troops violently broke up an anti-junta protest

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YANGON (AFP) — Hundreds of Buddhist monks in Myanmar held a group of local and security officials hostage for several hours Thursday, after troops violently broke up an anti-junta protest, residents said.

The showdown in Pakokku, about 500 kilometres (310 miles) north of the commercial capital Yangon, marked the most serious confrontation with the military government since protests erupted nationwide more than two weeks ago.

Tensions have soared in Pakokku, a major centre of Buddhist learning, since at least 300 monks marched through the streets on Wednesday, chanting prayers in a protest against a massive hike in fuel prices.

Troops fired warning shots above the crowd and then beat the monks with bamboo sticks to break up the protest, according to residents.

Local and security officials had come to the Aletaik monastery early Thursday to apologise for the violence, but the monks set four of their cars on fire and took about 20 people hostage, residents said.

Five of the hostages were released after about five hours, and the others were freed 45 minutes later, residents told AFP by telephone.

Outside the gates to the monastery, which is home to about 700 monks, hundreds of people had gathered to applaud their anti-government action, residents said.

Young monks finally decided to end the standoff, opening the gates out of concern for the health of a senior abbot, who needed to receive food and medicine, one resident said.

The monks flipped over the last two cars belonging to the officials and forced their captives to exit by foot through a back door, he added.

"I fully support the monks. They were just peacefully praying for the people. The monks are absolutely right," another resident said. "I'm surprised that these security people would dare to harm Buddhist monks in this country."

Pakokku is home to an estimated 10,000 young monks studying in more than 80 monasteries, according to Win Min, a Thailand-based analyst.

"Once the monks get involved, it is very bad for the security forces," he said.

"If you beat up the monks, this is making a religious crime. It could send you to hell in Buddhism," he said.

"Young monks are very militant and will fight back. Once the monks are beaten, people could also join."

The military and the Buddhist clergy are the two most important institutions in Myanmar, and the only groups which maintain networks stretching across the entire country formerly known as Burma.

The monks were credited with helping to rally popular support for a pro-democracy uprising in 1988.

Those protests were brutally crushed by the military, when soldiers opened fire on crowds in the streets of Yangon, killing hundreds, if not thousands.

Wednesday's protest in Pakokku marked the first time that uniformed soldiers are believed to have been deployed to break up one of the near-daily protests that have taken place around the country since August 19.

Until now, plainclothed police and militia had been used to disperse crowds that have been protesting against skyrocketing fuel prices that have doubled transport costs, leaving some unable to afford even the bus fare to work.

According to Amnesty International, more than 150 people have been detained over the protests including Min Ko Naing, considered Myanmar's most important democracy leader after detained Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.

One leading activist who orgainsed the August 19 rally with Min Ko Naing sent a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, urging the world body to take action to end the crackdown.

"We urgently need your practical support this time to prevent the real possibility of further violence," Htay Kywe wrote.