VARIOUS: Protests take place across Asia condemning violence in Myanmar

Myanmar junta's brutal crackdown on protesters sends thousands protesting across Asia. More than a thousand red-clad protesters marched along Kuala Lumpur busy road Friday (September 28) to the Myanmar Embassy to protest over the brutal crackdown of protests in Myanmar formerly known as Burma. The protest was organized by the Malaysia Burma Democratic Force (ABDF), a group consist of pro-democracy supporters, human rights defenders and religious activists. The protest was peaceful and incident free throughout albeit a noisy one. The protesters carried various kind of posters condemning the violent crackdown and urged China and Russia to stop supporting the military junta, in power for 45 years. In the Australian capital Canberra, protesters marching on to the Myanmar embassy clashed with police. About 100 protesters chanting slogans in support of democracy burned flags and staged a sit-down protest on the street outside the embassy after they were forced back by riot police and dogs. Some protesters were detained by police, who also confiscated an axe, according to a Reuters eyewitness. In the Philippine capital Manila, about 60 protesters gathered outside the Myanmar embassy. Protesters from the Free Burma Coalition-Philippines shaved their head in solidarity with the Buddhist monks who have been leading the protests. Reports say six of the monks had been killed in the dispersal so far. Josua Mata, spokesperson for Free Burma Coalition-Philippines, said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN must step in and pressure the military government to back down. Mata also urged ASEAN to end its much-maligned non-interference policy of "constructive engagement." In Thailand, about 200 people marched to the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok , waving banners and shouting slogans to denounce that country's brutal crackdown on peaceful protests and show support for those who have taken to the streets. The crowd consisted of Burmese and Thai monks, activists and students. Many were wearing the red fighting peacock headbands used by students in the last mass demonstrations in Myanmar in 1988, in which over 3,000 people were thought to have been killed by soldiers. Myanmar state media said nine people were killed when soldiers fired on crowds in Yangon on Thursday. The protests started a month ago after the price of fuel was hiked five-fold and have gathered momentum into more wider protests against grinding poverty and a military regime that has ruled the country since 1962.

ITN Source | September 29, 2007

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