Yangon Thu

Myanmar Junta trying to silence all

A friend of a friend just came back from Burma today and here is what she had to say: (The witness is in a state of high shock from having witnessed/heard all these news)

Last Friday, September 28, soldiers raided the Shwe U Min Monastery in North Okkalar Town in Yangon. During the raid 3 of the monks would not speak to the soldiers, they remained silent no matter what was said or done. The soldiers then shot the 3 of them on the spot. Those monks were said have been meditating at the time and were highly revered as great followers of Buddha's teachings.

Also when the soldiers raided the monasteries at Moe Kaung and Kyauk Kaung Monasteries, one of the monks tried to ask for help from people in the neighbourhood by trying to announce the soldiers' arrival by hitting the "Kyi Si". The soldiers shot the monk responsible for trying to inform the people. The soldiers then washed away all the blood, to cover up their heinous acts.

Meanwhile, Associated Press reports that many reporters in Burma have been missing, arrested or have been harrassed.

U Min Zaw, 56, who works for Japanese newspaper Tokyo Shinbun was arrested last Friday at his home by plainsclothes policemen.

Japanese Reporter Kenji Nagaii was gunned down among protesters last week.

Several reporters for media outlets such as Reuters and AFP have been harassed - physically attacked or prevented from doing their work.

Ko Kyaw Zeya Tun, 23, a reporter for The Voice, Ko Nay Lin Aung, 20, of 7 Days News and an unidentified female journalist from Weekly Elevan News are said to be missing. They are thought to be arrested during protests last week.

The Junta's Press Scrutiny and Registration Division is said to be harassing editors to print articles filled with pro-junta propaganda. "Most privately owned Burmese publication have not appeared or have been closed since the start of the crackdown," reports the Associated Pres

Posted by Yangon Thu at October 2, 2007 12:14 PM