Live Riot blog from Burma with Pictures

28 Sep 07, 09:58
mm: Breaking News: The matching of the protestors led by young students are now heading towards Nursing Institute in Yangon.

28 Sep 07, 10:03
mm: Breaking News: More and more people are joining the protests at several parts of Yangon.



Another source of news: National Strike Burma

More from the CB:

28 Sep 07, 10:43
Davy: Rgn General Hospitl has some injured protsters.Military seized the hospital.Division 77 at SOKA and 66 at downtown according to Mizzima.

28 Sep 07, 10:50
SAI: about15 soldiers from div 33 has been seen amongst the protesters

From chatroom at cgiirc.blitzed.org...

"People are now shouting slogans on Pansodan Street. And from the corner the street, the soldiers are watching. The people are shouting and running. Now there are more than 10,000 people here. But soldiers' strength remains the same. What we fear is they will come form behind and block us," a protester told Mizzima.

Soldiers backing down according to Global Voice

More info from cgiirc.blitzed.org...

"mono": Rangoon, 12:30p.m.?Burmese authorities announced they are to make house-by-house calls on homes in the area round the Sule Pagoda in downtown Rangoon, checking on residents. The Sule Pagoda is a rallying point of the demonstrations rocking Rangoon, and many protesters seek shelter in nearby homes. Residents were warned by loudspeaker on Friday morning to remain at home while the check takes place.

From the regular CB:

28 Sep 07, 10:58
chris: 33 batalion allowed monks to continue their protests in Mandalay, Burma's second city, yesterday. That may provide a clue to what's behind the reported fighting between the 33 and 99.

More info from cgiirc.blitzed.org...

"mono": Downtown Rangoon; Afternoon?At least two people were hit by gunfire when military troops opened fire on demonstrators on Friday afternoon in Kyauktada Township in central Rangoon, according to a witness, who said she narrowly escaped by hiding under a vehicle. She said the demonstrators were boxed in between Anawrahta Road and Maha Bandoola Road. Dozens of protesters were arrested, bound and beaten. The troops pursued fleeing people into buildings, she said, sin

cgiirc:

"mono": Accoding to contacts In mandalay, 15 soldiers from Army Division 33 are currently among the civilian crowd.

"mono": 3:40 p.mJunta seals off Rangoon general hospital compound.

"mono": 3:30 p.mWHO officials said they have rush to the Rangoon general hospital to donate medicines after hearing that several people have been injured after troops shot protesters. However, the hospital authorities rejected the donation and sent them back.When Mizzima contacted the Rangoon general hospital, to confirm of the information, officials of the hospital did not deny or confirm the information but cut off the telephone

"mono": An eyewitness account of a local who reached near the Sule pagoda"Students numbering about 30,000 holding the flag of a fighting peacock started marching from Nyaungpinlay market on the Lanmadaw street but did not come to Sule pagoda side and headed for the other side. And inside the Sule Park people with batons and machetes are preparing to attack. All together there are about 3000 to 4000 people waiting to attack near the Sule area. People are also gathering n

ko-htike blog (not CB):

Latest news burma time 16;17

i got news that 3 groups of protester are marching on the Ahnawrahta Street(which is near Sule pogada) toward Sule. it is around 4000 people. .................. in this group we found some foreigners, as well. ..... said eyewitness.


(Sorry for the bad psot layout, hopefully you can read my cryptic codes and short names for websites. It is all in such a hurry you know. Sorry)

The CB at ko-htike.blogspot.com... was temporarely closed down due to misuseage.

New CB opened at burmanews.cbox.ws... will post some info from there as well marked "BN".

BN:

28 Sep 07, 18:18
Ko Hla: There are 2 groups are protesting in downtown Yangon. One group marching from Pazuntaung (east of downtown Yangon) and another is from Alone (west of downtown Yangon). The military force is surrounded the group from Alone.

28 Sep 07, 18:16
Ko Hla: There are about 100,000 monks and people are protesting on 84th street in Mandalay. The military force pullback a bit and there is not gunshot until now.

28 Sep 07, 18:08
Ko Hla: The military forces has fully controlled of Pansodan Road in downtown Yangon. People are still protesting near Mingalar Market, Yuzana Plaza. All smaller roads are blocked by the military and only main roads are open to access in the city.

28 Sep 07, 18:01
Ko Hla: Reliable source: Army officers went down on their knees and requested monks to go back to monastery on 31st street in Mandalay.

28 Sep 07, 18:29
Admin: witnesses accounts: there are pools of bloods on the Pansoedan Road, protesters were chased and beaten with nightsticks.

Mizzima:

The authorities blocked popular blogs www.kohtike.blogspot.com..., niknayman.blogspot.com... and soneseyar.blogspot.com... which continuously posted news and photographs of ongoing protests against the fuel price hike and economic hardship.

The Straits Times (Singapore):

WHILE his country is convulsed by protests and bloodshed, Myanmar's ailing prime minister remains under treatment at a Singapore hospital, an embassy staffer said on Friday.

Raud..

I'm not a junta supporter.. but ok.. let's say the junta is overthrown...

Who will fill the vacuum/void? To my understanding, Myanmar is no way fully controlled by the juntas. There are warlords, drug kingpins, hmongs, other minor tibes.. all having their own little state or kingdom under their own arms within burma... some of the states are rather huge too.. and in Jungle environment. The Suu kyi democracy party will only be legit in Yangon and some coastal states.. just like Iraq green zone.

People doesn't learn from the lessons in present Iraq and it's a desert.. Is Myanmar ready for so-called democracy ? Does Myanmar needs a strong man to head the country ? When the juntas fall will there be a civil war ? Death squads might even re-appear (Hmongs- C!A trained). Who will the normal civilian turn to... there will be many forces and parties involved... they will be caught in the middle... I'm not surprise, if they would one day say it's better under the junta.. just like after the fall of Saddam.

One thing is for sure.. the whole country will go up in flames.

Myanmar must thread their path carefully... not at the wimps of foreign countries telling what's good for them. Of course, if good govt (be it socialist/communist/democracy) replace the juntas peacefully.. there'll be great. But I don't see how that could happen.. as it goes - either the junta crackdown on the protestors or give up. There is no such thing as a crackdown without violence. who will fill the vacuum ?

Ohh.. just to add. It's Myanmar.. burma no longer exist... Burma is an old Anglo-saxon colonial name. Myanmar is an independent country.. the exile community are mostly Hmongs... if you check their history in Burma, there are C!A drug manufactureres and death squads... not the right kind of people to call for democracy.

Lastly, the mass media seemed to be setting up the Junta for a TianAnmen Sq incident. While the protest started with Fuel ht increases, the media is equating it to democracy. While pro-democracy faction also takes advantage of the situation, but is the monks indicating it's for Democracy or the mass media. While the protest is about fuel increase, the good old USA is calling for Sanction.. wouldn't that adding fuel to fire. The sanction only worsen the everyday people lives.. US is trying to Regime Change Myanamr. The mass media is stalling the reaction of the junta to put down the protest.. when tear gas is used.. ohh! evil.. when trucheon was used.. they are hurting the protestors.. But the kind of police action is only too common even in Europe. In effect, the number started with hundreds, then thousands and now tens of thousands. when it reached a million, The Junta, like any other govt would be forced to use wide-spread method to clear the protestors.. for survive of the regime. Then you will see the western media harping on human-rights for months and even a yearly rememberance.

A gain... Myanmar must thread their path carefully... What's the use of democracy.. if your country is unstable and in turmoil with decades of violence.



[edit on 28-9-2007 by mobydog]

Collection of relatied news sources:
Bushy Feeds

Chatroom and news blog in Burmese (or square-language, I don't know, all I see is squares!):
Chat: niknayman.cbox.ws...
Blog: mizzimaburmese.blogspot.com...

More chat:

niknayman.cbox.ws: 28 Sep 07, 17:05 An foreigner old lay was shot dead said an eyewitness (still to be confirmed)

There are reports on burmanews.cbox.ws... that video footage of the Japanese reporter being shot are available at www.fileden.com...
I cannot retrieve the video as the bandwidth has been exceeding. If anyone does or has managed to get it please host it elsewhere for easier dissemination.

Edit - I have found a you tube link for the video Reporter Shot
Not sure on how to embed here, sorry

[edit on 28-9-2007 by ilandrah]

reply to post by mobydog


Not that I understand what that has to do with me posting news, but whatever...

Myannmar has a very well organized democratic regime in exlie. These are the people who should be reinstated.
They also have human rights and democracy front figure Aung San Suu Kyi.

About the name Burma, it still goes in some parts of the world. It is not very important at the moment.

Keep your pants on.

News from the burmanews chat:

28 Sep 07, 19:47
Admin: At entrance of Kyauk Myaung Thidar Lann, there is still shooting and soldiers are even arresting those who try to flee by climbing up the tree

28 Sep 07, 20:19
Admin: At Nyaung-U, the followers of SPDC has been forcing every household to send out at least one family member to protest as set up protest - "protesting against the monks and protesters". The order was out a while ago. SPDC is trying to lure the UN envoy's visit to Myanmar with these kind of set ups. Therefore, Mr.Gambari should know how to differentiate between the real protesters and those who were FORCED to protest against the civil unrest.

28 Sep 07, 20:13
Admin: the Police Station at South-Okkalarpa is being burnt down

From cgiirc:

"changed": niknayman.cbox 28 Sep 07, 18:10 [update.. tranaslation] There are people from the junta's side knocking on doors in Nyaung Oo asking at least one person per house hold to come out and forcing them to say that they don't agree with ther protest that's been going around. probably for tomorrow, when the UN envoy arrives, to make it look like the public doesn't support the protest.

Sep 28, 2007 (DVB)–Army troops attempting to raid monasteries in Mandalay and Rangoon last night were forced to withdraw by local residents.

Democratic Voice Burma (dvb)

From the chat at cgiirc:

"changed": niknayman.cbox 28 Sep 07, 19:11 [update.. happy translation] Cadets from DSA, May Myo, are preparing to go to Mandalay tomorrow .. they heard the news that the monks and public are suffering alot .. so they wanna help out and stand by the public. But their head master, having heard what the cadets are preparing to do, has arranged a meeting that all the cadets have to attending early tomorrow.

From the burmanews CB:

28 Sep 07, 21:03
Admin: The cadets from Defense Service Academy(DSA), which is located at Pyin-Oo-Lwin ( about 55 miles from Mandalay), are preparing to come down to Mandalay to stand by the side of monks and civilians. Their weapons were also confiscated as the news got thru. Therefore, the headmaster of the DSA is going to address this matter to the cadets tomorrow morning.

28 Sep 07, 21:03
Admin: At Kyaut Pa Daung, the followers of SPDC are forcing people to go against the monks and protestors. However, we heard that the monks and protestors continued protesting in large numbers.

From cgiirc:

"mono":"Maung Aye and his loyalists are opposed to shooting into the crowd," a source close to the military hierarchy told Mizzima referring to the major differences that the head of junta Senior General Than Shwe and his second-in-command, Vice-Senior General Maung Aye have over the brutal crack down on protesters in Burma.

"mono": Shooting in PazuntaungTroops opened fire on more than 10,000 protesters in Pazuntaung at about 4 p.m (local time). At least three people received injuries. Soon after. the crowd dispersed.

"mono": Protesters reportedly beaten to death by soldiers, goons and convicts in Pansadan and China townSeveral protesters were reportedly beaten to death during a crackdown in Pansodan and China town in the heart of Rangoon at about 3:00 p.m. (local time), protesters said. The baton charges and brutal beatings carried out by soldiers led by officials, including members of the Swan Arrshin, USDA and former convicts, who were believed to have been freed to be used in the ... (post was cut off /Raud)

cgiirc:

mono: ...be used in the crack down. (continued from recent post /Raud)

mono: "I was in Sule but went home at about 2 p.m. (local time). I left because the situation was getting ugly. There were a lot of members of USDA and former prisoners. Yesterday the soldiers dropped about four truck loads of former prisoners to crackdown on the protesters. When I looked at them, I saw their legs and bodies were swollen. And they carried bags in which they had catapults and 'ginkalih'. Soldiers were checking the people from behind."

mono: "Just now someone called me from the 40th Street and told me that there was a pool of blood on Pansodan flyover and people in China town had to flee because of the shooting. First the protesters marched from Sule to Pansodan and from Pansodan to Bar Street. And when they arrived on Pansodan Street, soldiers did not fire but started beating up the people. Members of Swan Arrshin also started assaulting them with iron rods. They were beating people to death. It al

mono: "People started fleeing to the 17th Street and to China town. But the soldiers blocked the road on Lanmadaw Street. So far we don't know how many deaths have occurred but I am sure there are more than a hundred deaths. Thousands have been arrested. Since Insein prison cannot accommodate anymore people they are being detained at the Government Technical College (GTC)."

mono: "We are worried about the fate of the monks arrested and dragged into trucks like animals on September 26, and also for those monks locked inside the pagoda. A lot of monks are locked up inside the monasteries. The government has announced that nine people have died but that is not true, I am sure there are at least a hundred deaths."

(This information is supposed to come fromMizzima /Raud)

[edit=add link]

[edit on 28-9-2007 by Raud]

From cgiirc:

mono: Some more translation from Niknaynam, courtesy of Mai Aung:16:30: In Mandalay there are more than 100, 000 and military stepped back. no gun shot yet.16:42: According eye witness, there were pools of blood in Pansodan street. The person must be beaten by an iron bar.16:47: Latest news: ICRC (International Committee of Red Cross) took to the street to help the injured.17:05: In Mandalay, 30,000 people joined 200 monks that are protesting at 31 street. Soldiers begged the monks to go back to monasteries.18:22: Police station at South Ukkalapa was burn down.A woman interviewed by Sky News has suggested the deathtoll among monks is close to 200. That is consistent with the number being given by the Facebook group. It is not yet clear, however, where these reports are coming from or what they are based upon.

mono: local newspaper here, who has a correspondent in Rangoon, say that the new troops in rangoon that go in overnight are from the feared 77. regiment from chin state. there seems to be quite some grip on the city right now.




[edit=add+typo]
[edit on 28-9-2007 by Raud]

[edit on 28-9-2007 by Raud]

28 Sep 07, 22:14
From burmanews CB:

Admin: Tokyo, Sep 28 (RIA Novosti) Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda Friday ruled out immediate sanctions against Myanmar, Kyodo News reported.Japan rules out sanctions against Myanmar 'Much of Japan's assistance (to Myanmar) is humanitarian,' Fukuda told reporters. 'We won't immediately impose sanctions and should rather think about how this situation can be resolved.'The Japanese Foreign Ministry said Thursday that Kenji Nagai, 50, from Tokyo, was shot during clashes between security forces and anti-government demonstrators. The Japanese Embassy in Myanmar has confirmed that Nagai was shot in the chest.'I was told it was most likely instant death from massive loss of blood,' a Japanese government spokesman said. The US Thursday had imposed financial sanction on 14 top leaders of the Myanmar junta. The last anti-Junta demonstrations in Myanmar were led by students in 1988. Security forces opened fire on crowds and around 3,000 people were killed.

www.mizzima.com

Top two in junta divided

"Maung Aye and his loyalists are opposed to shooting into the crowd," a source close to the military hierarchy told Mizzima referring to the major differences that the head of junta Senior General Than Shwe and his second-in-command, Vice-Senior General Maung Aye have over the brutal crack down on protesters in Burma.

Burmese Air Force planes airborne

Military aircrafts from the Matehtilar airbase are airborne. It is not known why the aircrafts have scrambled. On the other hand there is commotion in the Light Infantry Division 33 and 99 of the Burma Army. The exact nature of the commotion cannot be determined as yet.

Troops marching to Rangoon

There is an urgent report that Burmese troops from middle Burma has started to march towards Rangoon. The reported troops are from Central Command based in Taung Oo and South East Command. At this reporting, it is not clear if the troops are marching to reinforce or to challenge the troops in Rangoon for shooting the Buddhist monks.

[edit on 28-9-2007 by Raud]

From the burmanews cb:

28 Sep 07, 22:54
Admin: I just called UN official 24 hour hotline and they confirmed that people inside the country could report to them. The number is 554597. 554625 has been blocked by the govt, they said.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It is closing in on night time in Myanmar now and new information is coming in quite slow. No signs say that protests will cease, they will most propably continue on tomorrow.
Sadly, it seems like the violence will escalate and that more people will have to go under.
Already reports of hundereds of dead, among them many monks.

What we can hope for is that the crack in military leadership will deepen and that military units will face each others, making it more of a "fair" fight.

I do agree on the points taken by "mobydog". The land faces some sereious turmoil in the near future but this is a process that needs to be gone through blood and fire. Not trying to make that glamorous or any such thing though. With the right type of rulers, this nation have very good chances to become one of the richest in the area, just as Orwell stated back in the day when it was still a British colony.

I will stop my posting pretty soon but I will resume later (tomorrow morning, my local time).

Somebody else, use the links I've added and keep posting the latest. I will be back in 15 hours or so.

Peace to all. My thoughts are with the brave people of Myanmar who have had enough and finally risen up against their dictators. Freedom and justice for all people!

/Raud