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Military restricts Rangoon monks

Irrawaddy - September 14, 2010

Burma's military government has imposed tight restrictions on Buddhist monks in Rangoon in an attempt to prevent a recurrence of protests during the anniversary of the monk-led protests that led to a massive pro-democracy uprising in September 2007.

Rangoon's sources said the military junta told the Association of Abhidhamma Propagation in Rangoon to hold a quiet celebration for the 43rd annual Abhidhamma exams in Rangoon.

Speaking to The Irrawaddy, a senior Buddhist monk whose duty is to check exam papers and protect monks while they are taking the exams said, "They are not allowing us to use loudspeakers or put up flags and signboards during the Abhidhamma exam this year."

The exam, which tests knowledge of texts that are thought to originate from the 3rd century BCE and contain the thoughts of the Buddha's disciples and followers, is held from Sept. 11 to 19 at the Abhidhamma Yadanayaka Monastery in Bahan township near the Shwedagon Pagoda.

The restrictions also extend to lay associations in residential blocks set up to donate food to monks. They now have to get permission to invite monks to merit-making ceremonies when food is donated and they must be responsible for security.

"We have to take responsibility for monk's behavior when they come to our ceremonies, so if the monks protest like they did in the saffron uprising, we will be responsible and could be sent to prison," said one association leader.

Fearing protests, the authorities have deployed more security forces on the streets near monasteries and pagodas, with tight security being enforced near Shwedagon Pagoda.

If security forces suspect a monk or a lay person, they follow them and photograph them.

Meanwhile a source in Rangoon's police said that the Ministry of Home Affairs released a statement instructing police to crack down on protesters who disturb the upcoming election.

"We have started training on how to block roads and control protesters and even on how to prevent fire as part of our security procedures prior to the coming election," he said.

Burma's state-run newspaper, New Light of Myanmar, reported on Tuesday that the authorities found several bombs in Pegu, Thaton and Rangoon recently, and accused insurgents of planting them, saying they are trying to kill innocent people and destroy public property.

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