Excerpt from report by Norway-based Burmese Democratic Voice of Burma website on 20 September

[Report by Moe Aye and Maung Tu: “The Military Regime Prepares Similar Crackdown Used in Tabayin”]

Sources close to the War Office in Nay Pyi Taw said that today Senior General Than Shwe once again gave instructions to use violence in dispersing the monks who have been peacefully marching while reciting prayers. A similar crackdown was implemented in the Tabayin incident [in 2003].

It has also been learned that yesterday an instruction was given to about 200 troops from some battalions under Division No 77, which is responsible for security in Rangoon, to pretend to be monks

The SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] chairman [Than Shwe] reportedly instructed them to engage in a violent confrontation with the monks after creating a situation in which an conflict would appear to have occurred among the monks themselves. The sources also said the details were given to Colonel Thein Hen’s security units, which were closely involved with the Tabayin incident, to beat up genuine monks during the confrontation. The sources added that the Divisions No 77 and 44 would back up the security units.

The senior general [Than Shwe] has also ordered cabinet minister Major Gen Htay Oo and the Rangoon Command commander to start implementing four cuts [to cut off access to food, finance, information, and civilians] against the monasteries where the protesting monks reside.

The sources said time will tell as to what extent the lower-levels [security forces] will listen to the senior general’s order. [passage omitted on an telephone interview with a former military officer saying that a crackdown similar to the one that took place at Tabayin is not likely to happen, as the majority of the soldiers are Buddhists]

Source: Democratic Voice of Burma website, Oslo, in Burmese 0000 gmt 20 Sep 07