BNI English

September 28, 2007
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.

September 28, 2007
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.

(Burmese Standard Time)
4:30 p.m.
Security forces and soldiers start beating protesters in MandalayProtesting crowds in Mandalay are being brutally beaten and some have been arrested by soldiers and security forces, eyewitnesses said.

An eyewitness told Mizzima
"Here, on our side the shooting, beatings and arrests are still continuing. On the 84th Street helicopters are hovering overhead. Soldiers fired warning shots into the sky. The beatings are severe, and a lot of soldiers have been positioned. Near us there are about 30 to 40 soldiers. The shooting, beatings and arresting are mainly on the 84th and on 31st Streets. There are a lot of onlookers, but when they all gathered together they start shouting. Soldiers are trying to prevent the protesters from combining with the monks. The monks also marched today ahead of us and there are about 150 of them. And when the people started following the monks, the soldiers started arresting and beating them. Right in front of us about six people were arrested, most of them were onlookers. The soldiers took whoever they could catch. Soldiers fire more than ten shots."

Another eyewitness spoke to Mizzima
"Beatings and arrests took place mainly on 35th and 84th Streets. And the 34th and 85th Streets are blocked. About 70 monks marched and six of them were arrested. And onlookers and bystanders were also beaten and some were arrested. Now there is another group coming on motorbikes. They are now near the 35th and 34th Streets. The traffic was stopped.

"When people could not it tolerate any more they started shouting, but when the soldiers fired into the sky they all ran. Soldiers also chased them in vehicles. Those caught were arrested, and the soldiers also lassoed those running. There are a lot of people and they are crowded on the 35th street. As thousands of people are gathering the traffic is blocked. Security forces are blocking the road with their shields. What we heard now is that monks in the Mya Tuang monastery were ordered to go back to their hometowns within three days. And if they don't, the authorities said they will raid the monastery. A helicopter is also seen flying over the Phayagyi area. They are monitoring from above. In the Phayagyi area there are a lot of monasteries."

"Monks from Mya Tuang monastery also marched today. But since the roads are blocked they went back to the monastery. The authorities blocked the road in three or four rows. Regiments 33 and 99 have been used in Mandalay but now it reinforced with two more regiments. Security has been tightened and soldiers from their trucks are shooting video clips of the events. Some people here said the 33 regiment is now approaching the monks, but I am not sure of that. But according to what I can see there is no such signs. What is evident is the soldiers are determined to crackdown."

"Soldiers are shooting into the sky and using batons to beat the people. Onlookers and bystanders were also beaten and arrested. They were taken to Dhama Beikman in 35th and 85th Street junction. We don't know where they are being taken from there."

"People are still crowded at 35th Street. There are fire engines as well. But so far no water canons have been used. We heard is that the in is medicated and will lead to itching. "

2:45 p.m
Situation in Mandalay
Soldiers placed on roads where monks are likely to stage protest
"On the roads in an interval of about 50 feet, military trucks are stationed. Another 50 feet away soldiers stood guard. They have surrounded the monasteries, and blocked it. Soldiers have blocked the Phayagyi and Mya Tuang monasteries so that monks cannot come out. The people are looking forward to monks coming out," said a local resident in Mandalay.

Situation is near normal in Mandalay and schools and office remain open.

12:30 p.m
As witnessed by a local resident
"They are patrolling all over Mandalay town. The commander is leading the patrol. There are about 10 trucks doing the rounds. They stopped at 84th Street and requested the monks there to remain inside the monastery."

The commander requested monks in Mya Taung and Ma Soe Yein Monasteries not to come out.

"They are from the 33 regiment. More fire engines are positioned near the monasteries. Monks in the monasteries said they saw some troops who looked like Chinese or Wa troops taking up positions near the monasteries. There are about 300 soldiers."

"They drove off to the 84th Street. There were about ten to twelve trucks."

11 a.m
Medicated water for crack down on protesters in Mandalay
Rumors of the use of medicated-water to crackdown on protestors in Mandalay are making the rounds among local people.

A local resident talked about the situation in Mandalay
"We are hearing that there are fire engines filled with medicated-water and that the authorities will use water canons to disperse the crowd. The water is mixed with medicines and if the water is splashed on the people they will feel itchy and will not be able to continue protesting. Yesterday even the teargas created itchiness. A monk was badly affected, and there was nothing people could do to help him.

Yesterday, people were assaulted when angry mobs start pelting stones at the security forces. There were a lot of people yesterday. The people are not scared; everybody rushed to where there was confrontation with security forces. Since Mandalay is a city with a lot of motorcycles and people on bikes rushed to places where the crowds swelled leading to jams.

The Mya Taung monastery on the 35th Street was blocked but now security has been extended to the 36 th. Earlier one side use to be open but now it is blocked on both sides. In Zegyo area, the situation is normal and no blocking of roads is in evidence. But there is security on the 38th and 39th streets. And on the 84th street and towards Phayagyi there are soldiers on guard. But yesterday they opened it in the evening. The curfew is from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Since monks from the big monasteries could not come out, people gathered in the least expected areas.

It is important to see what Mr. Ibarhim Gambari will do. But we cannot depend too much on the UN, because they are just doing things in diplomatic way. Each time they come they only condemn or urge and nothing much happens. So, we are only hoping and praying that the situation in Mandalay will not get worse like in Rangoon.