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Monks take part in
a march in Yangon Sept. 25, 2007.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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YANGON, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Myanmar authorities
issued on Tuesday night a curfew order, banning the gathering of more than five
persons in the country's biggest city of Yangon, according to the Yangon
Division Administrative Department.
The curfew order, which applies to almost all
townships in Yangon, has been effective since Tuesday night from 9 p.m. to 5
a.m. for a period of 60 days, said an announcement signed by the head of the
department Hla Tun.
The announcement was broadcast by loudspeakers on
vehicles patrolling the city before midnight.
Tens of thousands of Buddhist monks and civilians
continued to stage demonstrations in Yangon on Tuesday afternoon despite
warnings by the government and the State Vulnerable Monks Committee.
As in the last week, the demonstrators marched in
procession from the eastern gate of the holy Shwedagon Pagoda to the downtown
Sule Pagoda.
Since Tuesday morning, the authorities have been
patrolling the city and broadcasting by loudspeakers, warning to disperse
unlawful gathering with the use of force.
On Monday evening, the State Vulnerable Monks
Committee of Myanmar issued a new directive to all levels of the committee,
calling on its members to avoid getting involved in party politics and
instigation and to stay away from forming, joining or supporting any illegal
monk organizations.
Actions will be taken against the members who commit
acts that tarnish the prestige of the Sasana (religion) and those who violate
individually or in groups religious rules and laws prescribed by the government,
the directive said.
On Monday, Myanmar Minister of Religious Affairs
Brigadier-General Thura Myint Maung said in his supplication to the committee
that the recent monk demonstrations in the country were incited by external and
internal destructive elements and four foreign broadcasting stations.
He noted that the monk demonstrations would not only
undermine the stability of the state but also tarnish the image of Myanmar
monks.
Myanmar's second largest city of Mandalay was also
under curfew.
China believes Myanmar gov't could
properly handle current situation
BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- China hopes and believes
Myanmar government and people could properly handle the current situation, said
Foreign Ministry spokesman Jiang Yu on Tuesday. Full story
Monk demonstrations continue in
Myanmar
YANGON, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Tens of thousands of Buddhist
monks and civilians continued to stage demonstrations in Myanmar's biggest city
of Yangon Tuesday afternoon despite warnings by the government and the State
Vulnerable Monks Committee to take action. Full story
UN chief calls for dialogue in
Myanmar
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon expressed Monday his hope that the recent wave of peaceful protests
in Myanmar will spur dialogue between the government and all relevant parties on
promoting national reconciliation, the restoration of democracy and full respect
for human rights. Full story
Bush announces new sanctions against
Myanmar
United Nations, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George
W. Bush on Tuesday announced new sanctions against Myanmar, an Asian country
that has been at odds with the United States over democracy.
"The United States will tighten economic sanctions on the
leaders of the regime and their financial backers, and we will impose an
expanded visa ban on those responsible for the most egregious violations of
human rights as well as their family members," said Bush in a speech to the UN
General Assembly. Full story
