Monks peacefully protest in Pakokku

Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

October 31, 2007 - More than 70 Buddhist monks in Pakokku town in central Burma today once again took to the streets in a peaceful protest march, a local monk said.

73 monks from the Sasana Wihmula Monastery, popularly known as the west monastery, began marching the streets at about 8:30 a.m. (local time) and headed east, chanting and reciting the Metta Sutta as they marched, said a monk who witnessed the procession.

"The monks are mainly from the Bodhi Mandaing and Mya Monasteries. They headed to Shwegu Pagoda and chanted the Metta Sutta at the pagoda," said the monk, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal.

The peaceful march, which is the first since the junta brutally cracked down on monk-led protests last month, comes amidst the Burmese junta's continued crackdown on activists and protestors.

Pakokku, a town in Magwe Division, was the turning point of the recent protests in Burma, which began on August 19th after authorities suddenly hiked fuel prices.