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Monks were quizzed and released, sa
- Subject: Monks were quizzed and released, sa
- From: moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 17:13:00
Subject: Monks were quizzed and released, says SLORC
26/3 Reuter Monks were quizzed and released, says SLORC
YANGON -- A Myanmar government source yesterday acknowledged a
Sunday-night incident in which at least 100 militant Buddhist
monks
stoned a mosque frequented by Indonesian embassy staff in western
Yangon, but denied that any had been detained.
Eyewitnesses reported earlier that security forces rounded up
about 100
monks after the incident and hauled them away.
"We haven't arrested anyone and only a handful of monks were
taken in
to answer questions and then released," the government source
said.
The incident, observed by hundreds of residents in the mixed but
mostly Buddhist neighbourhood, was confirmed as more
Buddhist-Muslim troubles were reported yesterday near Yangon
with the
government beefing up security in the capital around
monasteries and
other religious sites.
In the stoning incident, witnesses said that although the
monks were not
seen entering the mosque, security personnel took them away to an
unknown destination.
The unrest in Myanmar was sparked in the northern city of
Mandalay last
weekend by a group of monks protesting against the release of
Muslims
said to be involved in the alleged attempted rape of a young
Buddhist
girl.
Failing to gain satisfaction from the authorities, the monks
proceeded to
vandalise nearby Muslim property and mosques.
Religious Affairs Minister Lieutenant-General Myo Nyunt urged
Buddhist
monks on Sunday to teach young monks good conduct and to remember
to follow religious principles.
Myanmar is 90 per cent Buddhist and about 4 per cent Muslim. Its
430,000 monks play a key role in this deeply religious country.
They have in the past lent their support to political and
social causes. --
AFP, Reuter.