Junta alert about possible monk-led protests

by Mizzima News

Thursday, 20 August 2009 17:53

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Firm in its belief that Buddhist monks are gearing up for another round of protests, the Burmese military junta has put main Buddhist monasteries and temples under close surveillance, sources in the military establishment in Naypyitaw said. Based on intelligence inputs the military government believes that there could be another round of protests akin to that of the September 2007 demonstrations, which came to be known as the ‘Saffron Revolution’. It is therefore keeping monks under special surveillance. Monks from Kyopinkauk township are included in the list of special surveillance, the source said. In Rangoon security personnel are once again visible, taking up positions in main junctions, and key areas, including the popular Shwe Dagon Pagoda and Kabar Aye Pagoda Street, which were used as places to assemble by protesting monks during the September demonstrations.