Burma: Renewed Protest Sparks Security Clampdown

Press Release:Terry Evans

14 January 2009

The Burmese junta have tightened security in and around Rangoon after anti-junta leaflets were distributed last week. 2009 has heralded a renewed campaign by dissidents, with the widespread distribution of leaflets carrying the message, “As people we have not attained freedom yet, we must continue our struggle.”

Riot police and soldiers have been stationed at major intersections in the downtown Rangoon area, as well as around Shwedagon Pagoda, the focal point for monk-led demonstrations during the September 2007 Saffron Revolution. Reliable sources report that security forces were sighted patrolling in various parts of the city last night.

On January 4, Burma’s Independence Day, nine members of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) were arrested outside the People’s Parliament building in Rangoon as they called for the release of detained NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The parliament building has been unused since the junta overturned the result of the democratic election won by Aung San Suu Kyi's party in 1989.

ENDS

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