Perhaps fearing another uprising during the anniversary of last year’s demonstrations, Burmese security forces are now closely monitoring those who were involved in the 2007 uprising, and have recently arrested several activists and monks in Rangoon, according to dissident sources.
A senior Buddhist monk from Thanlyin Marlayon monastery in Thanlyin Township in Rangoon was arrested after security forces raided the monastery on Friday, according to a statement released by the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners—Burma (AAPP).
More than 20 plainclothes security officials raided the monastery on Friday morning at about 2 a.m. and searched the monastery for about 40 minutes. The authorities then arrested a 58-year-old monk named U Thilawontha, said the statement. It was not known where the monk was taken.
AAPP said that security forces warned the remaining monks not to go outside and deployed plainclothes security guards—believed to be intelligence officials—around Thanlyin Marlayon monastery.
The secretary of AAPP, Tate Naing, told The Irrawaddy that at least nine activists and monks, including U Thilawontha, have been arrested in Rangoon within the past four days.
The arrested activists were named as Ko Ko, Maung Nge, Saw Maung and Tin Myo Htut. Four unidentified Buddhist monks in Rangoon were also arrested, the AAPP secretary said.
The activists were reportedly members of three anti-government groups in Rangoon known as “Generation Wave”; “The Best Manure,” or “Myay All Zar” in Burmese; and the “New Generation Movement for Justice,” sometimes known as simply “Justice.”
“Security guards have now been deployed all over the place,” said Tate Naing.
On Wednesday, Tin Myo Htut (aka Kyaw Oo), a member of Generation Wave, was arrested in Rangoon on the way to meet some friends, a source in Rangoon said.
“Most dissidents keep running and hiding because the police are tracking them down,” he told The Irrawaddy on Friday. “The authorities are scared of a repeat of last September’s protests.”
The source added that another member of Generation Wave has been missing for two days.
Meanwhile, in Pakokku Township in Magwe Division, plainclothes security guards have been deployed in public areas and around local monasteries for several days, said a monk in Pakokku.
More than 30 activists were arrested by Burmese military authorities in August, of whom 21 were imprisoned, according to the AAPP.
A senior Buddhist monk from Thanlyin Marlayon monastery in Thanlyin Township in Rangoon was arrested after security forces raided the monastery on Friday, according to a statement released by the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners—Burma (AAPP).
More than 20 plainclothes security officials raided the monastery on Friday morning at about 2 a.m. and searched the monastery for about 40 minutes. The authorities then arrested a 58-year-old monk named U Thilawontha, said the statement. It was not known where the monk was taken.
AAPP said that security forces warned the remaining monks not to go outside and deployed plainclothes security guards—believed to be intelligence officials—around Thanlyin Marlayon monastery.
The secretary of AAPP, Tate Naing, told The Irrawaddy that at least nine activists and monks, including U Thilawontha, have been arrested in Rangoon within the past four days.
The arrested activists were named as Ko Ko, Maung Nge, Saw Maung and Tin Myo Htut. Four unidentified Buddhist monks in Rangoon were also arrested, the AAPP secretary said.
The activists were reportedly members of three anti-government groups in Rangoon known as “Generation Wave”; “The Best Manure,” or “Myay All Zar” in Burmese; and the “New Generation Movement for Justice,” sometimes known as simply “Justice.”
“Security guards have now been deployed all over the place,” said Tate Naing.
On Wednesday, Tin Myo Htut (aka Kyaw Oo), a member of Generation Wave, was arrested in Rangoon on the way to meet some friends, a source in Rangoon said.
“Most dissidents keep running and hiding because the police are tracking them down,” he told The Irrawaddy on Friday. “The authorities are scared of a repeat of last September’s protests.”
The source added that another member of Generation Wave has been missing for two days.
Meanwhile, in Pakokku Township in Magwe Division, plainclothes security guards have been deployed in public areas and around local monasteries for several days, said a monk in Pakokku.
More than 30 activists were arrested by Burmese military authorities in August, of whom 21 were imprisoned, according to the AAPP.
