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fwd:: Monk Killed in Burma Unrest

fwdby::P.McCracken

In a message dated 97-03-20 21:55:51 EST, you write:

>Subj:	Monk Killed in Burma Unrest
>Date:	97-03-20 21:55:51 EST
>From:	AOLNewsProfiles@xxxxxxx
>
><HTML><PRE><I>.c The Associated Press</I></PRE></HTML>
>
>      By PATRICK McDOWELL
>      BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - A Buddhist monk has died from gunshot
>wounds suffered during anti-Muslim rioting in Mandalay, Burma, The
>Associated Press has learned.
>      Diplomats in the Burmese capital of Rangoon, speaking Thursday
>on condition of anonymity, said the monk died after rioting that
>targeted Muslim-owned property in response to the alleged rape of a
>Buddhist girl by a Muslim.
>      A curfew was in effect in Mandalay, and police and soldiers were
>patrolling the streets, the diplomats said in telephone interviews
>from Bangkok, Thailand. Mandalay residents confirmed their accounts
>of activity in the city, but not the death of the monk. The central
>city is 370 miles north of Rangoon, the Burmese capital.
>      The circumstances of the monk's death were unclear, the
>diplomats said. But Mandalay residents said security forces fired
>weapons over the heads of monks and other rioters sacking mosques
>and property owned by Muslims on Tuesday.
>      The residents, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity for
>fear of retaliation, said two monks were wounded by ricocheting
>bullets.
>      Residents said soldiers and police were posted Thursday around
>some monasteries and the city's biggest market was closed.
>      There apparently is no connection between the riots and the
>conflict between the military government and pro-democracy leader
>Aung San Suu Kyi, whose activities are increasingly restricted.
>      A Thailand-based dissident group, the All-Burma Young Monks
>Union, claimed that the unrest in Mandalay was sparked by the
>deaths of 16 monks in custody, but a government official, speaking
>on condition of anonymity, denied the claim.
>      The official blamed the unrest of people trying to derail
>Burma's expected entry to the Association of Southeast Asian
>Nations. Muslim-dominated Malaysia and Indonesia are key ASEAN
>members.
>      Burma has been ruled by the military since 1962. The State Law
>and Order Restoration Council came to power in 1988 and killed
>thousands of anti-government protesters. The regime has opened the
>long-isolated economy to free-market forces, but keeps a tight lid
>on dissent.
>      Mandalay's 20,000 monks are militant, taking part in both the
>1988 uprising and in anti-government protests in 1990. The
>government has banned many of their organizations.
>      AP-NY-03-20-97 1340EST
>      <HTML><PRE><I><FONT COLOR="#000000 SIZE=2>Copyright 1997 The
Associated
>Press.