Protests in Rangoon

(Burmese Standard time)
6:00 p.m
Fully armed soldiers are seen forming a straight line and marching at the cross roads of Sule pagoda traffic point and Anawratha Street.

5:55 p.m
Protesters in Rangoon have dispersed for the day.

A doctor in Rangoon’s general hospital confirmed that three injured monks have been admitted to the hospital after they were beaten up severely by the riot police at Shwedagon pagoda earlier today.

5:30 p.m
Woman protester injured in police firing

Besides warning shots into the air to disperse the protesting crowd, police took a shot at the crowd and injured a woman protester near Sule pagoda today.

A woman of 45 years of age and a resident of Shwepyithar Township was injured by the gun shot and was bleeding profusely. Fellow protesters had to take her to the hospital, Mizzima sources said.

She is the wife of Soe Aung.

5:00 p.m
Mizzima has learnt that the crackdown on monks-led protestors in Shwedagon was carried out on the orders of several junta officials including Brigadier General Kyaw San, Minister of Information, Colonel Tint San No. (3) Regional commander, and Major Ye Zaw Zaw, the temporary commander of LIR (16).

4:30 p.m
Soldiers despised by civilians

As the protesting crowd advanced soldiers and the three army trucks which stopped them on Bogyoke Street had to move back. Slowly the soldiers were forced out of the street until they reached under the Pansodan flyover. Another group of people watching the scene from the flyover threw their shoes and dirt on the soldiers, a practice reserved for those who are despised in the Burmese community.

4:05 p.m
Civilians snatch back monks from security forces

Security officials have had to back-off and release monks, as supporters hit back security men who are arresting and loading the monks onto trucks.

As Monks from Bakara, Uhyin, Shin Ottama, Zeyawaddy, and Aung Mingalar monasteries began marching, at about 1 p.m (local time) security forces at the corner of Bakara street in Sanchaung township blocked the road and arrested the monks and loaded them on to a vehicle. But the local people in Sanchuang enraged seeing monks being ill-treated retaliated forcing them to back off.

After security forces backed-off, the road was clear and the monks could start marching again.

3:45 p.m
About 30 soldiers with yellow ribbons around their necks led by a commander are marching on Bogyoke Street towards the 36th street. The soldiers were followed by three army trucks. The soldiers have now reached the 36th street and the protesting crowd is also slowly marching and approaching the soldiers.

3:35 p.m
“In Bahan, police are being very rude. They kicked the monks, beat them on the head.. They stepped on monk who fell down on the streets,” said a Rangoon resident to Mizzima talking about the crackdown on demonstrators near Shwedagon pagoda.

3:05 p.m
Soldiers fired warning gunshots at the protesters led by monks near the Sule pagoda. And eyewitnesses said at least 10 more truck loads of soldiers have been brought in as reinforcement.

3:00 p.m
Near the Sule pagoda in downtown Rangoon, protesting monks and civilians remained silent as soldiers confronted them. More onlookers joined the protesters.

2:56 p.m
Security forces have blocked the Kanna Street in downtown Rangoon. As the authorities reduced the speed of internet connections, most internet cafes in Rangoon today closed shop.

2:30 p.m
Security forces fired tear gas shells and gun shots in Rangoon to disperse protesting monks.

“I saw people running from Shwedagon because of the gun fire. They [authorities] have started shooting. Some people ran from Shwedagon to Maha Bandoola Street. At the moment the protesting monks and civilians number more than 10,000 and are departing from Shwedagon and heading towards Tharmwe Plaza,” an eyewitness told Mizzima.

Mizzima Sources said, gun shots could be heard from the direction of Sule pagoda in downtown Rangoon. Two gun shots were heard from Bar Street and another two from City hall, near Sule pagoda.

Monks and civilians continue marching in protest and sing nationalist songs such as “Kabarmakyeabu”, and shouted ” peopl not to be slaughtered” as they moved along.

At least four monks were injured following the beatings by riot police in Shwedagon, according to people who fled.

2:25 p.m
Security forces fire teargas beat up protesters

Security forces in Rangoon’s Shwedagon pagoda fired four teargas shells into the protesting crowd led by monks and began beating up the protesters including monks. A protesters screamed “Killers, Killers” and ran away to escape the beatings, eyewitnesses said.

Security forces also beat a reporter along with other protesters.

11:58 a.m
Authorities have blocked the road from Myaynikone to Shwedagon pagoda.

Armed security personnel have been stationed at the corner of the link street near the office of the National League for Democracy

But eyewitnesses said, some people have gathered in front of the NLD office to continue the protest today.

11:10 a.m
More protests foreseen

The junta’s ban on assembly of more than five people nothwithstanding activists said they would continue to protest.

Sources said, groups of people are starting to gather in Rangoon to start demonstrations today.

More arrests

Authorities last night arrested famous Burmese comedian and critic, Zarganar from his residence.

Police raided the house of the Burmese comedian at 1 Op.m. last night and seized photographs and telephone besides arresting him.

As Burma saw protests and crackdowns in what is another snowballing unrest, Thai government has planned to call back its embassy officials in Rangoon if the situation goes out of control.

At least 150 riot police are seen taking up position near the office of the cabinet.

10: 45 a.m
Security tightened in Rangoon

As part of escalating security security measures a military truck has been placed at the eastern gate of the famous Shwedagon pagoda, and only a single man entry was open at the middle gate. At Kyethwon pagoda, about 100 riot police blocked the road.

Police officials also ordered the roadside stalls near the area to be close-down. At Arzarnikone, two army trucks have been placed and at the end of the road near the nuns monastery there are about 40 policemen.

Though today is the full moon day of the month, on which Buddhists in Burma usually goes for prayers at pagodas, due to heavy security at the pagodas only a few people are seen going for prayers.

Meanwhile, at Mandalay, about 300 police and soldiers that has batches of Battalion 99, are seen taking up position near the Phayagyi pagoda.

Impacts

In Rangoon most of the private learning centres including tuitions and extra classes have been closed-down indefinitely.

As today is the full moon day, all government schools are closed, but offices remained open. However, there have been orders that in case of emergency all the front doors should be immediately shut-down.

While a few private companies closed their offices, many continue to operate. But in case of emergency, the employees have been instructed to leave the office early.

Junta’s preparations

Sources said, the junta has envisaged that the protesting monks would continue despite their restrictions, and that the junta has plans to instigate violence among the demonstrators so as to project the demonstration is going out of control.

If the information is true, as part of the junta’s plan, government-backed thugs taking the form of protesters would attack and destroy Tharmwe Township Peace and Development Council office, and as more people join the attack the army will open fire on protesters, on the pretext that it is protecting government properties.

10:37 a.m
Junta bans gathering, imposes curfew in Mandalay and Rangoon

In a desperate bid to put a stop to demonstrations the Burmese military junta has stepped up security to unprecedented levels after declaring curfew last night in two of its biggest cities – Mandalay and Rangoon.

The regime did not make the announcement through its state-owned medias. Local authorities did the rounds in their respective townships with large megaphones and announced the 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. curfew.

The announcement also includes banning of assemblies of more than five people