Photos

An image of the Mandalay Mahamuny Monastry.
Representative realism.

*Scanned image*


Troops are said to have fired warning shots to disperse protesters in Rangoon this morning as demonstrators gathered at the Sule Pagoda in defiance of the curfew imposed by Burma's military regime.Early this morning, security forces are reported to have raided up to six Burmese monastaries, beating and detaining at least 200 monks.

At least five people were reported to have been killed and others wounded in clashes in Rangoon yesterday.

Burmese-language foreign radio stations are urging Burma's monks and their supporters not to surrender as security forces ready barbed-wire barricades at major junctions in central Rangoon, the Reuters news agency reports.
After midnight, security forces arrested Myint Thein, the spokesman for opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party, family members said. An executive of the National League for Democracy, Hla Pe, and a former member of parliament from the Chin ethnic minority, Pu Yin Shin, were also arrested, according to an exiled league member, Ko Maung Maung.
Several monasteries were raided by security personnel during the early hours of today in an apparent attempt to prevent further demonstrations which have been spearheaded by the Buddhist clergy.
A monk at the Ngwe Kyar Yan monastery, pointing to bloodstains on the concrete floor, said a number of monks were beaten and at least 70 of its 150 monks taken away in vehicles. Shots were fired in the air during the chaotic raid, he said.
A female lay disciple said a number of monks were also arrested at the Moe Gaung monastery which was being guarded by soldiers. Both monasteries are located in Rangoon's northern suburbs.
A United Nations envoy is seeking a visa to enter Burma after the UN Security Council gathered in emergency session yesterday to discuss the Burmese regime's response to the protests, amid calls from America and the European Union nations for international action.
After separate talks in New York, US and EU ministers condemned the violence against peaceful demonstrators and asked the 15-nation Security Council to “consider further steps including sanctions” against the junta but China and Russia signalled last night that they would block any UN sanctions against Burma.

Times Online
September 27, 2007