By DPA
Yangon : Myanmar’s ruling military junta attempted Wednesday to discredit hundreds of monks who resumed their protest march similar to ones that led to nationwide demonstrations 19 years ago.
The monks, widely revered in this predominantly Buddhist country, were described as “bogus”, “violent” and “disrespectful” by government controlled newspapers, reflecting the danger they pose to a military that has ruled since a 1962 coup.
Several hundred monks again gathered Wednesday for the second day outside the locked gates of the country’s premier shrine – the massive Shwedagon Pagoda.
The mostly young monks, followed by hundreds of onlookers and undercover security officials later marched through the streets of the former capital. Similar protests were held in other cities, including up to 1,000 monks marching in Mandalay.
Pro-democracy activists started the protests last month after a sharp hike in fuel prices led to economic hardships. The monks, now the primary protestors, are also demanding an apology for shots fired to disperse a demonstration Sep 5 in Pakokku, according to witnesses.
On Tuesday, shots were also fired in the north-western city of Sittwe. The state-run New Light newspaper of Myanmar admitted Wednesday that the authorities fired tear gas to disperse monks, but said that two sayadaws – abbots – from the official religious body the Sangha attempted to persuade monks in Sittwe from protesting, but their “reasonable” pleas were met with thrown sticks aimed at “patient” officials.
The state mouthpiece and other publications reported that although senior officials “gently persuaded” most of the protestors in Sittwe to disperse, a core group continued to demonstrate with sticks and stones and, later, attempted to get their colleagues released from custody. The actions “forced” officials to reluctantly fire into the air and throw tear gas grenades.
The newspapers pointedly claimed that no monk was injured in either incident.
Diplomats in Yangon said the determination of the protestors was unusual – reflected even in the official reports – perhaps signalling a growing and widespread dissatisfaction with the regime.
Wednesday’s newspaper reports may be the nearest the monks get in their demand for an apology for the shots fired two weeks ago in the north, though it is unlikely to satisfy them, added diplomats.
Unauthorized protests are illegal in Myanmar, which has been under martial law since 1988 when the entire country was rocked by anti-military demonstrations that were in part sparked by the deteriorating economy.
Tuesday’s marches were on the 19th anniversary of the 1988 crackdown in Myanmar.