Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
October 4, 2007 - Burmese security forces in Rangoon continue rampant crackdown interrogating and arresting people on suspicion.
While the crackdown continues, several security personnel are taking advantage of the situation by resorting to extortion from local vendors or shops, and warn them not to speak about it to overseas media groups.
Sources said soldiers and security personnel continue to be deployed at major road junctions and key places in Rangoon such as Sule pagoda area and Shwedagon pagoda, but in a much relaxed atmosphere as if a war has been won.
However, it is risky for anybody seen with cameras, as soldiers continue random search and interrogations among pedestrians.
Arrest on suspicion
"Yesterday, security forces at Hlaing Tharyar flyover stopped all the vehicles passing and conducted random searches. They arrested several people who they were suspicious of. And even those who had all their documents had to give in to demands for money. They demanded money in various categories -- for vendors they would demand about 4000 to 5000 kyat and up to 10,000 kyat depending on the people's occupation and made them sign an agreement not to leak the information to overseas media groups. The people not only hate them but loathe the sight of them. They just want to stay out of trouble," a local resident told Mizzima.
"In downtown areas like Kyauktada and Sule areas in the townships, there are groups of at least five or six people searching vehicles including buses with photographs of those who participated in the protest. They announced that even those who sheltered the protesters will be taken action against," the resident added.
Fake monks in Ngwe Kyar Yan
"In Ngwe Kyar Yan monastery, the authorities had earlier placed about five fake monks and they remain as spies. But now it seems they have moved out because almost all the locality people knew about it. Currently, there are only about five monks remaining in the monastery. There are no more security personnel guarding the monastery now, but every half an hour fiv military trucks come to check the situation. That they do in almost the whole city," a local resident told Mizzima.
"The soldiers are making rounds in the city and are mainly from division 22, 66 and 77. The officers come in small vehicles in the middle of the convoy. They make rounds of the city and come to every locality every half an hour," added the local resident.
"There are no soldiers guarding the markets but these five trucks came in a hurry, it seems like they were informed that the people have started gathering," the local said.
Monks continues to disappear
"Monks have been ordered to go back to their native places. And from the Aung Mingalar Monastery in Ahlone Township, local residents arrange a vehicle for the monks returning to Meik town. There were about all together 60 monks but when they reach the outskirts of Rangoon, soldiers forcibly disperse the group into tens. Monks are repressed even worse than the civilians. Some of the monks have reportedly gone missing and have not reached home," a resident told Mizzima.
"One of our monks was also included among those arrested but he was among those released yesterday. He does not want to stay here any more and wants to go back home. The monk was badly hurt in the face. There are a lot of monks beaten up inside the interrogation camps," added the resident.
Schools reopen but students scared to attend
Schools in Rangoon have started to reopen, however, parents are scared of another unrest and crackdowns and have not sent their children to schools.
"But the school authorities have not complained about the student's absence because of the ongoing situation. In normal times the school authorities are strict about attendance," the local added.
No NC support gathering and aass rally in Rangoon
While the authorities in various parts of Burma are conducting mass rallies and gatherings in support of the recently concluded National Convention, authorities in Rangoon have failed to organize anti-protest demonstrations or gathering in support to the NC.
"So far there is no announcement of such public gathering in Rangoon. I think they would not force the people to attend compulsorily like they did in other parts of Burma. They might just call members of Swan Arrshin and USDA and government servants if they are to organize. But so far there are no notices or announcement. And that is because may be they fear that if they organize such mass meetings, the people would turn the gathering in to public demonstrations," a local resident of Rangoon told Mizzima.
"If the authorities call such mass meetings, the people would not object but may not go. Because currently people want to avoid any confrontation with them, and would just comply with whatever they say though they are not happy," added the resident.
October 4, 2007 - Burmese security forces in Rangoon continue rampant crackdown interrogating and arresting people on suspicion.
While the crackdown continues, several security personnel are taking advantage of the situation by resorting to extortion from local vendors or shops, and warn them not to speak about it to overseas media groups.
Sources said soldiers and security personnel continue to be deployed at major road junctions and key places in Rangoon such as Sule pagoda area and Shwedagon pagoda, but in a much relaxed atmosphere as if a war has been won.
However, it is risky for anybody seen with cameras, as soldiers continue random search and interrogations among pedestrians.
Arrest on suspicion
"Yesterday, security forces at Hlaing Tharyar flyover stopped all the vehicles passing and conducted random searches. They arrested several people who they were suspicious of. And even those who had all their documents had to give in to demands for money. They demanded money in various categories -- for vendors they would demand about 4000 to 5000 kyat and up to 10,000 kyat depending on the people's occupation and made them sign an agreement not to leak the information to overseas media groups. The people not only hate them but loathe the sight of them. They just want to stay out of trouble," a local resident told Mizzima.
"In downtown areas like Kyauktada and Sule areas in the townships, there are groups of at least five or six people searching vehicles including buses with photographs of those who participated in the protest. They announced that even those who sheltered the protesters will be taken action against," the resident added.
Fake monks in Ngwe Kyar Yan
"In Ngwe Kyar Yan monastery, the authorities had earlier placed about five fake monks and they remain as spies. But now it seems they have moved out because almost all the locality people knew about it. Currently, there are only about five monks remaining in the monastery. There are no more security personnel guarding the monastery now, but every half an hour fiv military trucks come to check the situation. That they do in almost the whole city," a local resident told Mizzima.
"The soldiers are making rounds in the city and are mainly from division 22, 66 and 77. The officers come in small vehicles in the middle of the convoy. They make rounds of the city and come to every locality every half an hour," added the local resident.
"There are no soldiers guarding the markets but these five trucks came in a hurry, it seems like they were informed that the people have started gathering," the local said.
Monks continues to disappear
"Monks have been ordered to go back to their native places. And from the Aung Mingalar Monastery in Ahlone Township, local residents arrange a vehicle for the monks returning to Meik town. There were about all together 60 monks but when they reach the outskirts of Rangoon, soldiers forcibly disperse the group into tens. Monks are repressed even worse than the civilians. Some of the monks have reportedly gone missing and have not reached home," a resident told Mizzima.
"One of our monks was also included among those arrested but he was among those released yesterday. He does not want to stay here any more and wants to go back home. The monk was badly hurt in the face. There are a lot of monks beaten up inside the interrogation camps," added the resident.
Schools reopen but students scared to attend
Schools in Rangoon have started to reopen, however, parents are scared of another unrest and crackdowns and have not sent their children to schools.
"But the school authorities have not complained about the student's absence because of the ongoing situation. In normal times the school authorities are strict about attendance," the local added.
No NC support gathering and aass rally in Rangoon
While the authorities in various parts of Burma are conducting mass rallies and gatherings in support of the recently concluded National Convention, authorities in Rangoon have failed to organize anti-protest demonstrations or gathering in support to the NC.
"So far there is no announcement of such public gathering in Rangoon. I think they would not force the people to attend compulsorily like they did in other parts of Burma. They might just call members of Swan Arrshin and USDA and government servants if they are to organize. But so far there are no notices or announcement. And that is because may be they fear that if they organize such mass meetings, the people would turn the gathering in to public demonstrations," a local resident of Rangoon told Mizzima.
"If the authorities call such mass meetings, the people would not object but may not go. Because currently people want to avoid any confrontation with them, and would just comply with whatever they say though they are not happy," added the resident.
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