TAIWAN / BANGLADESH: Activists in Taiwan and monks in Bangladesh march to protest a violent crackdown on demonstrators in Myanmar

ration on Saturday (October 6) to express their anger toward the situation in Myanmar after the junta resorted to violence to quell protests. Despite typhoon Krosa hitting Taiwan's capital Taipei, Myanmar nationals and students who have studied in Myanmar and their religious supporters walked the streets in raincoats chanting "Free Burma, release Aung San Suu Kyi". The 15-minute march, which was cut short by the typhoon, started in front of the Taipei city hall, passing the landmark Taipei 101 building, then to the city council. Protesters wore masks of nobel laureate and leader of the opposition Aung San Suu Kyi to protect their identities and also further emphasize their request of her release. "I felt sad after watching it, they cannot do such things to students and monks. Those images shock you with the ground covered in blood," said Miss Lee, a Myanmar national of Chinese decent. Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian issued a statement expressing "strong regret and condemnation". In Dhaka, Bangladesh, dozens of Myanmar monks marched to the embassy to protest the junta's attack on monks as well as civilians. "They (Military Rulers) have killed more tha 3,000 people during the democracy movement, they are brutal, still they are killing and arresting people who are in the movement," said Myanmar dissident Khaleda Rahim. Myanmar soldiers opened fire last week to clear the streets of the capital Yangon of up to 100,000 Buddhist monks and civilians demanding democracy -- the biggest protests in the country in 20 years. State media said 10 people were killed, though diplomats believe the real number is likely to be far higher.

ITN Source | October 6, 2007

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