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Burma troops surround monasteries Burma troops surround monasteries
(about 1 hour later)
Truckloads of soldiers and riot police have surrounded a number of monasteries in Rangoon, Burma, in an attempt to prevent a ninth day of protests. Truckloads of soldiers and riot police have surrounded a number of monasteries in Burma's largest city, Rangoon, to try to prevent a ninth day of protests.
Overnight, authorities arrested two prominent dissidents who had been supporting pro-democracy marches. But groups of people are massing on the streets, apparently to prepare for more demonstrations - despite a ban on gatherings of more than five people.
Burma's military rulers are now waiting to see if defiant protesters attempt to continue a series of anti-government demonstrations led by Buddhist monks. In another sign of increased tensions, two key dissidents have been arrested.
A ban remains in force on groups of more than five people gathering. Analysts fear a repeat of the violence in 1988, when troops opened fire on unarmed protestors, killing thousands.
Earlier, the first night of a dusk-to-dawn curfew passed peacefully in Rangoon and Mandalay, the second-largest city.
But as dawn broke news emerged of the arrests of two well-known opponents of the regime: U Win Naing, a 70-year-old veteran independent politician, and Zanagar, a popular Burmese film comedian.
At the weekend Zaganar and other local celebrities arranged a special meal for the protesting monks as a way of showing their support.
Violence fearViolence fear
Troops were reported to be on the streets in other parts of Rangoon, away from the monasteries. Earlier on Wednesday, the first night of a dusk-to-dawn curfew passed peacefully in Rangoon and the northern city of Mandalay.
BBC South Asia correspondent Jonathan Head says the scene now appears set for a repeat of the violence 19 years ago when troops opened fire on unarmed demonstrators. But as dawn broke, news emerged of the arrests of two well-known opponents of the regime: U Win Naing, a 70-year-old veteran independent politician, and Zanagar, a popular Burmese film comedian.
As the morning wore on, large numbers of soldiers with water cannon reportedly surrounded the Shwedagon pagoda, the holiest site in the city.
Armed troops have been seen deployed in other parts of the city as well, including the Sule pagoda, one of the main centres of the monks' protest marches in the past few days.
TUESDAY'S PROTESTS 1. Shwedagon Pagoda. Tens of thousands of protesters, led by monks, gathered for the march2.Sule Pagoda. Students joined the protest, passing by city hall Burma government viewTUESDAY'S PROTESTS 1. Shwedagon Pagoda. Tens of thousands of protesters, led by monks, gathered for the march2.Sule Pagoda. Students joined the protest, passing by city hall Burma government view
The restriction on gathering in public, and the night-time curfew, will stay in place for 60 days, officials say.
State TV has repeated warnings to Burma's people not to join the demonstrations, and to the Buddhist monks not to meddle in politics.State TV has repeated warnings to Burma's people not to join the demonstrations, and to the Buddhist monks not to meddle in politics.
But monks led tens of thousands of people through Rangoon and other towns on Tuesday for an eight day of protests, calling for democracy and an end to military repression. But monks led tens of thousands of people through Rangoon and other towns on Tuesday for an eighth day of protests, calling for democracy and an end to military repression.
Joining them were workers, actors and politicians from the opposition National League for Democracy party led by Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains under house arrest.Joining them were workers, actors and politicians from the opposition National League for Democracy party led by Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains under house arrest.
Some chanted "we want dialogue" while others simply shouted "democracy, democracy".Some chanted "we want dialogue" while others simply shouted "democracy, democracy".
People were also carrying flags, including some bearing the image of a fighting peacock used by students during the 1988 pro-democracy uprising, witnesses say.People were also carrying flags, including some bearing the image of a fighting peacock used by students during the 1988 pro-democracy uprising, witnesses say.
The young monks leading this movement have vowed to keep up their protests, but our correspondent says that now looks certain to put them on a collision course with the army.The young monks leading this movement have vowed to keep up their protests, but our correspondent says that now looks certain to put them on a collision course with the army.
Restraint urgedRestraint urged
The junta, which repressed the 1988 protests by killing some 3,000 people, finally broke its silence over the mounting protests late on Monday, saying it was ready to "take action".The junta, which repressed the 1988 protests by killing some 3,000 people, finally broke its silence over the mounting protests late on Monday, saying it was ready to "take action".
PROTESTS MOUNT 15 Aug: Junta doubles fuel prices, sparking protests5 Sept: Troops injure several monks at a protest in Pakokku17 Sept: The junta's failure to apologise for the injuries draws fresh protests by monks18-21 Sept: Daily marches by monks in Burmese cities gradually gather in size 22 Sept: 1,000 monks march to the home of Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon23 Sept: Up to 20,000 march in Rangoon24 Sept: New Rangoon march draws at least 50,000 and 24 other towns join in In pictures: Protests Q&A: Protests in Burma Press reaction Send us your commentsPROTESTS MOUNT 15 Aug: Junta doubles fuel prices, sparking protests5 Sept: Troops injure several monks at a protest in Pakokku17 Sept: The junta's failure to apologise for the injuries draws fresh protests by monks18-21 Sept: Daily marches by monks in Burmese cities gradually gather in size 22 Sept: 1,000 monks march to the home of Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon23 Sept: Up to 20,000 march in Rangoon24 Sept: New Rangoon march draws at least 50,000 and 24 other towns join in In pictures: Protests Q&A: Protests in Burma Press reaction Send us your comments
Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged Burma's military to show restraint in the face of the rising tide of protests.Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged Burma's military to show restraint in the face of the rising tide of protests.
President Bush announced a tightening of existing US economic sanctions against the military regime there.President Bush announced a tightening of existing US economic sanctions against the military regime there.
The US has already imposed an arms ban on Burma, a ban on all exports, a ban on new investment and a ban on financial services.The US has already imposed an arms ban on Burma, a ban on all exports, a ban on new investment and a ban on financial services.
Earlier, close ally China called for stability and the EU also urged the junta to show restraint and launch a process of real political reform.Earlier, close ally China called for stability and the EU also urged the junta to show restraint and launch a process of real political reform.
The protests were triggered by the government's decision to double the price of fuel last month, hitting people hard in the impoverished nation.The protests were triggered by the government's decision to double the price of fuel last month, hitting people hard in the impoverished nation.
Are you in Burma? How have you been affected by the current situation? What is the mood like in the country? Send us your comments and experiences.Are you in Burma? How have you been affected by the current situation? What is the mood like in the country? Send us your comments and experiences.
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