Each harsh action of the Burmese military junta against the monks and the people is drawing brickbats outside the country. Agitated Burmese people in Thailand staged a protest in front of Burmese embassy in Bangkok on Sunday morning against the sealing of a Buddhist monastery in Rangoon.
About 25 activists, students and migrant workers wearing red shirts protested the closure of the house of worship. The demonstration was organised by Global Alliance of Burmese Students.
Maggin monastery, which is also famous for being a home to HIV/AIDS patients who come to Rangoon seeking treatment, in Thin Gan Gyun Township, Rangoon was raided in November. The abbot of the monastery, Sayadaw U Indaka, was arrested and detained at an unknown location for his involvement in the monk-led protests in September.
"This action is very different from the regime's propaganda and restricts the development of Buddhism in Burma," said GABS in its statement.
"We cannot accept the actions of State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) where it suppresses monks, raids monasteries, arrests the men in robes and the people. The Maggin monastery is famous for accommodating AIDS patients. Cracking down on the monastery like Maggin proves the Generals in Burma have no ethics and we denounce them as Buddhists," Khine Gyi, one of the organizers said.
The demonstration concluded at 11 in the morning.
Burmese students and migrant workers have been protesting in front of the Burmese embassy since the September movement for change in Burma . Some students who participated in these protests were denied extension of their passports by the Burmese embassy.
