Myanmar protesters shot and beaten by Corina Ciubotaru

After more than a week of protests, the Myanmar police took action against the Buddhist monks and civilians filling the streets of Yangon. They have still to start negotiations despite international voices urging them to resolve the dispute peacefully, and have resorted to violence against the highest moral authority of the country. Two monks and one bystander were killed in the shootings in Yangon, Myanmar's former capital city, and around 200 monks were arrested. The military regime also made sure none of the protesters made contact with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was prevented from taking power when she was democratically elected in 1990, and has remained in house arrest since 2002. Voices from all over the world called for patience and restraint from the junta, Myanmar's military regime, as violent measures against peaceful protesters are against international law. The situation in the country formerly known as Burma emerged as an important new topic at the U.N. General Assembly, held these days in New York. While the country's neighbors and investors China and Russia blocked a U.N. intervention, many authorities in the region also watch the situation with great concern and call for peaceful negotiations. The shootings occurred after 100 monks tried to defy the army by venturing into an off-limits area around the Shwedagon Pagoda and were greeted with tear gas as they sat down and started praying, against the government orders to not assemble. Several monks were beaten and others escaped and headed for the Sule Pagoda.

related story: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20070926/tpl-uk-myanmar-43a8d4f_13.html

by Corina Ciubotaru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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