Thousands join Burma monks on protest march

Sep 21 2007

MONKS took to the streets in Burma’s largest city for a fourth straight day today, while the military junta insisted it has no plans to call a state of emergency to quell growing protests that pose the greatest threat to the regime in a decade.

Meanwhile, the UN Special Envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari told the Security Council in New York yesterday that recent protests and the military regime’s subsequent crackdowns raised “serious concerns” and underlined the urgency of resolving the political turmoil there. Gambari told the council in a closed door session he plans to visit Burma, also known as Myanmar, but has set no date.

“Undoubtedly, the developments over the last few weeks in Burma have raised serious concerns in the international community and once again underscore the urgency to step up our efforts to find solutions to the challenges facing the country,” Gambari told the council, according to a UN account of the closed session.

Braving driving rain, about 200 monks converged on Mei Lamu pagoda in north Okalapa on the outskirts of Rangoon, witness said.

After chanting sermons and praying for 15 minutes, the monks dispersed, witnesses said.