Monks Sentenced to Six Years Imprisonment; Rangoon, Mandalay Locked Down by Troops By The Irrawaddy Saturday, September 29, 2007

Streets in Rangoon and Mandalay were relatively quiet on Saturday, following three bloody days in which at least 10 protesters were gunned down, according to state-run media, and scores of monks and civilians were beaten and arrested by security forces.

However, members of Burma's opposition groups say as many as 200 people may have been killed in the standoff between monks, pro-democracy demonstrators and security forces. Many hundreds of people were seriously injured.

Many corpses were taken to secret locations, according to opposition sources.

In Rangoon, as many as 1,000 monks have been imprisoned since a boycott on alms from the military government and its supporters was declared on September 17, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners based on the Thai-Burmese border.

The monks are being held in the notorious Insein Prison and the Government Technology Institute compound, located near the prison in north Rangoon, according to sources in Rangoon.

A senior monk who was taken to Insein Prison by authorities to talk to the monks said they were stripped of their robes and are now wearing prison clothing. Some monks have already been sentenced to six years imprisonment by a specially convened court, he said.

Throughout the day scattered protesters numbering in the dozens to several hundred, mostly young and bold, played hit-and-run games with security forces in Rangoon.

"Some young people appeared on the streets, holding fighting peacock flags and wearing arm bands. When the army trucks come, they run away," said one resident.

The authorities, who clearly have control of Rangoon, fired tear gas in reply to groups who dared to venture out, and there were numerous arrests.

There is some hope among protesters that Sunday may see larger demonstrations to take advantage of the presence of UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who arrived in Rangoon on Saturday. Opposition forces are hopeful some type of dialogue can begin with the junta with Gambari as mediator.

Authorities maintain a heavy presence around many of the most active monasteries in Rangoon and Mandalay. Many shopping malls, businesses, grocery stores and public parks are closed.

Ngwe Kyar Yan Monastery in Rangoon, the scene of a bloody overnight attack in which about 200 monks were detained early Thursday morning, has since been looted by army troops, according to sources close to the monastery. Everything of value was carted away, including scores of Buddha statues. The head of one of the largest Buddhas, embedded with valuable jewels, was cut off.

Meanwhile the price of basic food in Rangoon is increasing hour by hour. Some retail shops say rice stocks are very low. "I have rice to sell for only two or three days," said one shop owner. A dusk to dawn curfew in Rangoon and Mandalay has made life very difficult for the people.

Authorities cut Internet service within the country on Friday and phone service has been sporadic, further isolating residents.

The largest demonstration in the country on Saturday occurred in Kyaukpadaung in Mandalay Division when about 1,000 monks led an estimated 30,000 people in a peaceful march despite the heavy presence of security forces and military troops.

Sources say a disinformation campaign consisting of counter-demonstrations organized by the Union Solidarity and Development Association, a junta-backed group, has forced people from Kyaukpadaung, Myingyan and Nyaung Oo to demonstrate in support of the junta crackdown.

Over the past weeks, leaders and members of the National League for Democracy and other opposition groups in Rangoon, Mandalay, Magwe division and Arakan state have been arrested by local authorities, essentially decimating the ranks of the political opposition. Thand Nwe Oo, a youth leader of the NLD who was arrested in Thaingangyun Township is 6-months pregnant, said a source.