SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS
The week saw an increase in tactics by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to quell the protests. While they have carried out more arrests and refused access to those already detained, they have also made strong efforts to interrupt access to information, cutting off phone lines and internet web sites. The authorities are clearly alarmed by the threat of a massive protest led by monks throughout the country, and they have implemented various means to combat the potential protest, including increased surveillance, donations to senior monks, and a propaganda campaign.
DEMONSTRATIONS
- Nyaungdone, Irrawaddy Division
- Taunggok, Rakhine State
- Poster Campaign
- Turning of Alms Bowls Campaign
ABDUCTIONS, ARRESTS, INTIMIDATION, AND SURVEILLANCE
Junta Propaganda Campaign
The SPDC has begun a propaganda campaign accusing the National League for De-mocracy (NLD) and the 88 Generation Students of terrorism, contact with exile groups, and of receiving financial support from Western nations. Analysts see these increased attacks against the NLD as a move to increase restrictions on the party and possibly ban it altogether.
Intimidation and Coercion of Monks
SPDC authorities have been approaching the monastic authorities to control the movement of monks in each monastery. They have put restrictions on the times monks receive public offerings and in some places banned the collection of alms al-together. In some areas, they have imposed a curfew on the monasteries.
Security Forces on Alert
According to an intelligence report, on September 6 the SPDC Ministry of Home Af-fairs put all Police Forces, Riot Police forces and State Reserve Forces on “emergency period” alert.
Status of the Abducted, Disappeared, Detained
Family members paid a visit to Insein prison on Tuesday and were told by prison authorities that they didn’t know the whereabouts of the detained activists and advised them to contact those who originally arrested the activists.
Harassment and Intimidation Campaign
The authorities continue to harass, intimidate, and closely monitor the friends and relatives of the activists still in hiding, but those activists seem to have evaded arrest.
Cutting off information
The regime this week made further moves to restrict the information flow both with-in the country and with the international community.
Six Labor Activists Given Jail Sentences
Thurein Aung, Wai Lin, Myo Min, and Kyaw Win were sentenced to 28 years, and Nyi Nyi Zaw and Kyaw Kyaw were sentenced to 20 years in jail.
RESPONSES
“China whole-heartedly hopes that Myanmar will push forward a democracy process that is appropriate for the country.” – Chinese diplomat Tang Jiaxuan
“We are all frustrated.” - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yu-dyohono
“There will be no progress in Myanmar's political transition unless people have space to express their views openly and peacefully.” - Louise Arbour, High Commissioner for Human Rights
Demonstrations
- UN Headquarters – September 10, 2007
- Bangkok – September 12, 2007
- Planned Demonstrations on September 18, 2007
READ Whole Summary...
The week saw an increase in tactics by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to quell the protests. While they have carried out more arrests and refused access to those already detained, they have also made strong efforts to interrupt access to information, cutting off phone lines and internet web sites. The authorities are clearly alarmed by the threat of a massive protest led by monks throughout the country, and they have implemented various means to combat the potential protest, including increased surveillance, donations to senior monks, and a propaganda campaign.
DEMONSTRATIONS
- Nyaungdone, Irrawaddy Division
- Taunggok, Rakhine State
- Poster Campaign
- Turning of Alms Bowls Campaign
ABDUCTIONS, ARRESTS, INTIMIDATION, AND SURVEILLANCE
Junta Propaganda Campaign
The SPDC has begun a propaganda campaign accusing the National League for De-mocracy (NLD) and the 88 Generation Students of terrorism, contact with exile groups, and of receiving financial support from Western nations. Analysts see these increased attacks against the NLD as a move to increase restrictions on the party and possibly ban it altogether.
Intimidation and Coercion of Monks
SPDC authorities have been approaching the monastic authorities to control the movement of monks in each monastery. They have put restrictions on the times monks receive public offerings and in some places banned the collection of alms al-together. In some areas, they have imposed a curfew on the monasteries.
Security Forces on Alert
According to an intelligence report, on September 6 the SPDC Ministry of Home Af-fairs put all Police Forces, Riot Police forces and State Reserve Forces on “emergency period” alert.
Status of the Abducted, Disappeared, Detained
Family members paid a visit to Insein prison on Tuesday and were told by prison authorities that they didn’t know the whereabouts of the detained activists and advised them to contact those who originally arrested the activists.
Harassment and Intimidation Campaign
The authorities continue to harass, intimidate, and closely monitor the friends and relatives of the activists still in hiding, but those activists seem to have evaded arrest.
Cutting off information
The regime this week made further moves to restrict the information flow both with-in the country and with the international community.
Six Labor Activists Given Jail Sentences
Thurein Aung, Wai Lin, Myo Min, and Kyaw Win were sentenced to 28 years, and Nyi Nyi Zaw and Kyaw Kyaw were sentenced to 20 years in jail.
RESPONSES
“China whole-heartedly hopes that Myanmar will push forward a democracy process that is appropriate for the country.” – Chinese diplomat Tang Jiaxuan
“We are all frustrated.” - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yu-dyohono
“There will be no progress in Myanmar's political transition unless people have space to express their views openly and peacefully.” - Louise Arbour, High Commissioner for Human Rights
Demonstrations
- UN Headquarters – September 10, 2007
- Bangkok – September 12, 2007
- Planned Demonstrations on September 18, 2007
READ Whole Summary...
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