Monks march in Kyaukpadaung, Aung Lan and Pakkoku

Monks march in Kyaukpadaung, Aung Lan and Pakkoku

Sep 18, 2007 (DVB)�Hundreds of Buddhist monks staged protests in Kyaukpadaung, Aung Lan and Pakkoku today as the recent wave of demonstrations in Burma gathered fresh momentum.

Eyewitnesses in Kyaukpadaung, Mandalay division, said that more than 250 monks marched through the streets today, marking the start of a boycott on merit making and a protest campaign against the government.

�Today�s protest was successful and we were supported by members of the public who applauded us and gave us water and juice to drink,� one monk who took part in the Kyaukpadaung protest said.

Reports from Aung Lan said that just under 100 monks protested in the city at about 5am this morning, chanting metta and marching through the streets. More than 600 monks reportedly marched against the government in Pakokku this afternoon�the scene of the violent September 5 crackdown that led to this week�s nation-wide boycott.

�Monks from the town�s western monastery started marching at about 1pm. They were joined by monks from the Mahavithutarama monastery and others. There were about 600 monks and a lot of bystanders,� one monk from the Mahavithutarama monastery said.

�This time there was no harassment from the authorities,� the monk said.

Reporting by Aye Naing