Burma Protests: the Situation on August 31
Taunggok, Arakan State—Two men who staged a two-hour demonstration in Taunggok on Friday morning were arrested by the authorities, including police, the Union Solidarity and Development Association and Special Branch officers. The two protesters carried sign boards declaring “People are starving,” protesting against increases in the price of fuel and basic commodities and calling for the creation of more employment opportunities.
The head of Military Operations Command No 5 met the secretary of the National League for Democracy in Taunggok Township, of Arakan State, Khin Hla, on Friday afternoon, and asked him to hand over photographs taken of two protesters being arrested earlier Friday. The photographs were taken by Min Aung, joint-secretary of Taunggok NLD. The pictures were handed over to the commander, Khin Hla said. The protesters are being detained at Taunggok police station.
Kyaikasan, Rangoon—Protestors detained at Rangoon’s Kyaikasan interrogation center launched a hunger strike on Thursday, demanding medical treatment for an injured activist. The activist, named as Oway, a youth member of the National League for Democracy, suffered a broken leg when he was thrown from a truck after being arrested during a demonstration at Hledan Market, Kamaryut Township, on Tuesday.
Burma Protests: the Situation on August 30
Rangoon—Burmese army troops in trucks toured Rangoon on Thursday hunting for pro-democracy activists in hiding. They distributed pictures of three wanted women, including prominent human rights activist Su Su Nway, who was assaulted by pro-regime thugs while demonstrating at Hledan Market in Rangoon's Kamaryut Township on Tuesday. She managed to escape and is now in hiding. Other members of the 88 Generation Students group now being hunted down include Mi Mi, Nilar Thein and Htay Kywe.
Mandalay—Police tightened up security at leading monasteries in Mandalay on Thursday, while the authorities ordered junior monks and novices from other townships who came to study at Mandalay to return home. The police also checked the monastery walls for notices calling for protests. Security in the entire city remained high.
Kyaukpadaung, Mandalay Division—A group of about 20 protestors led by Aye Khine, a member of the National League for Democracy and some students supporting the leadership of the 88 Generation Students, succeeded on Thursday morning in marching to a local pagoda despite attempts by disruptive pro-regime elements to block their way.
As they arrived at the pagoda, the protestors found the road blocked by local authorities and a group of Swan Arr Shin supporters led by the chairman of the township Peace and Development Council. The demonstrators reached the pagoda via another road, and prayed there for the release of detained NLD leaders Aung San Suu Kyi and Tin Oo, the 88 Generation Student group leaders Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi and all imprisoned political prisoners. They also called for recent commodity price increases to be reversed.
No action was taken against the protestors, although the chairman of the township PDC called NLD secretary Shwe Ko to his office and threatened that they could be arrested for violating provisions of the 1988 Act 2/88, prohibiting gatherings of more than five people.
Burma Protests: the Situation on August 29
Sittwe, Arakan State—The day after 200 Buddhist monks joined a demonstration here security was tightened in the city and more security officials were seen on the streets on Wednesday. Authorities closed the city’s main market Wednesday afternoon, according to Sittwe residents. Some roads were blocked by authorities with concertina wire, witnesses said. When monks marched through Sittwe on Tuesday, authorities made no attempt to break up the demonstration. However, sources said, three people who were giving water to monks were arrested. One was released late Tuesday night, and two others reportedly remain in custody.
Burma Protests: the Situation on August 28
Sittwe, Arakan—About 200 monks staged a peaceful demonstration in Sittwe, western Arakan State, on Tuesday, a local source said. The monks marched through Sittwe for a few hours, said the source, adding that he saw no attempts to break up the protest.
Hledan, Rangoon—About eight members of the National League for Democracy youth wing were beaten, bundled into a car and driven away by pro-government thugs after staging a protest demonstration at Hledan Market in Rangoon’s Kamaryut Township on Tuesday afternoon. The leader of the group, labor rights activist Su Su Nway, collapsed and was taken to the car, sources said.
In a separate incident, two activists demonstrating at Hledan market were also detained and driven away by car, according to witnesses.
Yenanchaung, Magwe—About 20 protesters led by members of the National League for Democracy in Yenanchaung, Magwe Division, again staged a demonstration on Tuesday morning. They visited three monasteries to mark a local Buddhist festival day. Their
Leader, Khin Saw Htay, said plainclothes police and members of the pro-regime Union Solidarity and Development Association followed the demonstration but did not intervene.
Burma Protests: the Situation on August 27
Pegu—About 30 people, mostly members of the National League for Democracy, held a demonstration march in downtown Pegu on Monday, about 80 kms (50 miles) north of Rangoon. Plainclothes police watched the protest from a distance. After about 30 minutes, the entire group of demonstrators was arrested and taken to the Township State Peace and Development Council office where they were questioned and then released.
Burma Protests: the Situation on August 26
Yenanchaung, Magwe—About 20 people led by the members of the National League for Democracy in Yenanchaung, Magwe Division, passed off peacefully on Sunday morning although local authorities have warned that anyone attempting to launch a public protest could be confronted and attacked by the security forces.
Burma Protests: the Situation on August 25
Latha, Rangoon—Four demonstrators, including a key leader, Htin Kyaw, were arrested by authorities shortly after they held a demonstration at Rangoon’s Theingyi Market in Latha Township at 1 p.m. on Saturday, witnesses said. Htin Kyaw is a key leader of the Rangoon-based Myanmar Development Committee which announced earlier this week that it would stage a demonstration against the rise in fuel prices. Zaw Nyut, Ko Kan and Han Ti were also arrested.
Mogok, Mandalay—About 30 people led by youth and women group members of the opposition National League for Democracy started a protest demonstration about 11:30 a.m. on Saturday in Mogok, about 183 km north of Mandalay, according to Hla Oo, the chairman of the Mogok Township NLD office. While Hla Oo was speaking to The Irrawaddy on the telephone, he said the demonstrators were marching in downtown Mogok. There were no reports of authorities blocking the demonstrators.
Burma Protests: the Situation on August 24
Downtown Rangoon—About 20 protesters were arrested in front of Rangoon’s City Hall at around 2 p.m. on Friday while they were preparing for a protest, according to Myo Myo, who had planned to participate in the event. She told The Irrawaddy by phone from the former capital that the group of some 100 protesters was broken up by uniformed authorities and pro-junta civilians, including some women. Most of those arrested were women and were beaten while they were being forced into a minibus, Myo Myo said. The arrested were taken inside the City Hall compound, where Myo Myo said uniformed and plainclothes security personnel had been posted in greater numbers in recent days.
Basein, Irrawaddy—Aye Win staged a solo protest on Merchant Road in Basein, Irrawaddy Division on Friday morning, during which he carried a sign board that read: “The rise of fuel prices, the difficulties of the people.” He was arrested by authorities after only a few minutes of protesting.
South Dagon, Rangoon—Aung Saw Oo, Saw Lwin, Thein Aung Myint and Nyunt Win—all youth members of the National League for Democracy—were arrested by authorities Friday morning while waiting at a bus stop in South Dagon Township. Their current whereabouts remain unknown.
Yenanchaung, Magwe—About 20 people led by leaders of the National League for Democracy in Yenanchaung, Magwe Division, went Friday morning to the township Peace and Development Council to meet the local PDC chairman and discuss recent increases in transportation fares and fuel prices. The chairman told the group that local authorities have reduced bus fares in Yenanchaung to previous prices and requested that they stop protesting. Following the meeting, the group marched from the township PDC office to downtown Yenanchaung, where they ended their march peacefully and without harassment by authorities.
On Thursday evening, the chairman of the district Peace and Development Council met Khin Saw Htay and Tin Lwin, leaders of the NLD who led a protest earlier that day against the sharp rise in fuel prices. The chairman urged the two leaders to sign a statement acknowledging Act 2/88, which bans public gatherings of more than five people. The two leaders refused.
Tarmway, Rangoon—A mob of about 100 pro-junta civilians in 5 trucks are gathering near Tarmway Plaza in preparation for ongoing demonstrations against the government’s fuel-price hikes. One demonstrator who will take part in today’s protest said a planned march is expected to begin by 1 p.m. on Friday, despite the threat of violence from pro-government groups. The head of Rangoon Command reportedly ordered security forces to crack down on protesters, and even reporters who try to photograph the demonstrations. Security in and around the former capital is said to be very tight.
Burma Protests: the Situation on August 23
Central Rangoon—A solo protester, Ohn Than, was detained by police and plainclothes security officials as he staged a demonstration outside the US Embassy in Rangoon on Thursday afternoon. Ohn Than, 61, has defied official attempts to silence him on several occasions—the last time was in April this year, when he was arrested while staging a solo demonstration near Rangoon’s Theingyi market and later released.
Ohn Than, 61, said at that time that he was demonstrating “to escape from the world’s poorest country, to demand the establishment of a people’s elected government, to get rid of dictators” and to get the government to invite the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to visit Burma.
In 2004, he was sentenced to two years imprisonment after staging a solo demonstration in front of the UN Development Program office in Rangoon. After his release, he joined about 20 protesters in Rangoon in February this year in a demonstration calling on the regime to address the social and economic woes facing the country. Ohn Than and 15 other demonstrators were taken into custody but later released.
South Dagon, Rangoon—Pro-government thugs beat groups of demonstrators who marched through areas of Rangoon on Thursday morning, protesting against drastic increases in the price of fuel. Armed with bamboo sticks, members of the pro-junta Union Solidarity and Development Association and the paramilitary group Pyithu Swan Arr Shin, led by the chairman of the Rangoon’s South Dagon Township State Peace and Development Council, attacked some 30 protesters marching through the area. Three people were arrested.
Bahan, Rangoon—A separate protest march on Thursday morning by about 40 demonstrators led by members of the opposition National League for Democracy was blocked by USDA and PSAS rowdies at Shwegondine in Rangoon’s Bahan Township. Demonstrators were also beaten up here, and about 30 people were arrested. Several demonstrators, including HIV/AIDS activist and NLD youth member Phyu Phyu Thin, fled the scene.
Yenanchaung, Magwe—In central Burma, a protest march by about 50 demonstrators passed off peacefully on Thursday morning in Yenanchaung Township, Magwe division. The march began at 8 a.m. and ended without incident at 10.30 a.m., NLD member Khin Saw Htay reported. She said a police patrol car followed the marchers, but the demonstrators had not been attacked. Further demonstrations would be held on Friday, she added.
|
