Security beefed up in Arakan State-MIZZIMA

http://www.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/1142-security-beefed-up-in-arakan-state.html

by Phanida
Wednesday, 15 October 2008 19:01

Chiang Mai – Local authorities beefed up security throughout the Arakan State capital of Sittwe this morning, a city which has seen recurring unrest ever since the early days of protests last year ahead of September's Saffron Revolution.
Uniformed soldiers and army trucks were ubiquitous throughout Sittwe on Wednesday, including at monasteries, Lawkananda Pagoda, teashops, U Ottama Park, Mizan Park and other popular and crowded venues.

"They deployed security personnel, consisting of five to a group, at the (Lawkananda Pagoda) under the pretext of a VIP security cordon. In some strategic places we saw officers with the rank of Lieutenant or 2nd Lieutenant. There are about 400 security personnel manning stations in the city," a local resident said.


Other local residents confirmed the deployment of security personnel in the city, but could not comment as to the reason behind the actions.

The show of force came a day after celebrations to mark the full moon day of the Burmese month of Thadingyut, which commemorates the date when the Buddha is said to have descended to the earthly realm.

Though previously monks could be accompanied by devotees of their choosing during the rice alms ceremony to mark the occasion, this year each monk was only permitted to be accompanied by two middle or high school students.

"Over 480 monks attended the ceremony to receive offerings. Two students followed each monk. Previously the monks could bring whoever they liked. But this year the regional military commander arranged everything to ward off outsiders," a well-wisher in this ceremony related.

Starting from 9 a.m. yesterday, about 500 monks came to the Wingabar ground, opposite the Sittwe Myo Ma pagoda and circumambulated the ground before accepting alms at about 11 in the morning.

A local resident said that this year's Thadingyut festival was not as lively or prosperous as was typical prior to last year's mass protests.

"Last year, after the monk-led protests, there was no rice alms offering ceremony. This year there still was no zat (dance troupe performance) or festival market. There were only some cold drink shops, fried snack shops and vermicelli fish soup (Monehingar) shops. The people are familiar with the situation," she added.

Moreover, authorities continue to harass Arakan State National League for Democracy (NLD) members by visiting their homes and other regular places of convening.

In one instance, military intelligence agents came to the guest house and interrogated the Arakan State Yathaydaung constituency MP U Tin Thein Aung while he was on a social visit to Sittwe with his family.

"They watch and follow me wherever I go to check whether I am still active in my political activities or not. They employ the police inspector and some soldiers on stand-by duty to stay in front of my home," he said.

Moreover, Sittwe constituency NLD MP Nyo Aye is on the run after being frequently harassed by police personnel from the township police force, while NLD members from Tungup and Gwa Townships are facing a similar situation.

"They come and stop us when we go to our party meetings. Moreover, they threaten the motorcycle taxi drivers and rickshaw drivers, telling them not to transport us or risk facing dire consequences, while questioning them over our desired destinations," said Soe Lay, acting Secretary of the Tungup NLD.

"We are losing our human rights, including freedom of movement. All the NLD members cannot move around freely. We have to do something now. But they are putting pressure on us to stop our political activities and I see this is obstructing our political movement," he further remarked.