Mandaly (AsiaNews) – Burma’s military junta has entrusted “civil militias” with the task of repressing protests against rising fuel costs which have spread across the country this week. The warning comes from a Buddhist monk from Mandalay: “if the protests reach Mandalay, we religious will not stand idly by”. The declaration comes in response to the a statement from the military commander in Mandalay, Gen. Khin Zaw, who August 26th “asked” the religious of the city to stay away from the recent demonstrations.
According to the monk, , whose statements were carried by the newspaper The Irrawaddy, authorities are using plain clothes police officers and pro government civilians to beat and arrest citizens who in recent days have “expressed their discontent”.
The hike in fuel costs, August 15th last, had immediate effect on the price of public transport and food products, forcing the population to its knees. “If the government doesn’t have the skills or ability to do something, - accuses the monk - it should hand power over to someone who can”.
