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Prisoners 'reprieved' for pagoda c
- Subject: Prisoners 'reprieved' for pagoda c
- From: moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 06 Apr 1999 21:17:00
Subject: Prisoners 'reprieved' for pagoda ceremony
Tuesday, April 6, 1999 Published at 15:57 GMT 16:57 UK
BBC
World: Asia-Pacific
Prisoners 'reprieved' for
pagoda ceremony
The 2,500-year-old pagoda is a sacred Buddhist site
Leaders of Burma's opposition movement are reported to
have been temporarily released from detention to attend
a ceremony at a sacred Buddhist shrine.
The ceremony, to mark the restoration of the Shwedagon
Pagoda in Rangoon, drew crowds numbering tens of
thousands.
The detainees who were granted two-day passes out of
prison reportedly include members of parliament from
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy.
"I am out here because we made a special request to
the authorities," one MP was quoted as saying.
"For Buddhists, this is the event of a lifetime."
Burma's military government, has refused to recognise
the NLD's 1990 election victory.
Jewellery donated
The decision to renovate the weather-worn temple, one of
Buddhism's most sacred shrines, was taken last year
after consultations with senior monks.
Huge crowds watched as the last tier of the ceremonial
pagoda, made of gold, was winched onto the top of the
shrine.
The shrine is said to date back 2,500 years.
Despite widespread poverty in Burma, thousands of
people donated jewellery for the gold roof, which is said
to weigh over two tonnes.
At the very top of the shrine is a 76 carat diamond,
housed in a carved lotus bud and surrounded by
thousands of gems.
State-run media portrayed the restoration of the shrine
as a symbol of solidarity between government and
people.
One newspaper said the brilliance of the shrine appeared
to be "anointing and blessing the close camaraderie that
exists between the rulers and their subjects."
Celebrations are expected to continue throughout the
week.