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Published on September 29, 2007

"We are hoping that Thailand will condemn what's going on in Burma. I lived in Thailand from 1991 to 1992, and I know how much Thai people want democracy and are willing to go out and brave the military, and that is what is happening here. And this military is shooting people down," US chargé d'affaires in Rangoon Shari Villarosa, told Nation Channel in a telephone interview from Rangoon.

The government said only nine people had been killed, but according to US Campaign for Burma, more than 200 people have been killed and at least 700 arrested.

Yesterday's demonstration drew tens of thousands of people demanding an end to 45 years of military dictatorship. The marches have grown into the stiffest challenge to the ruling junta in decades.

The government seemed intent on clearing the streets of monks, who have spearheaded the demonstrations.

About 20 trucks packed with soldiers arrived in the area near Sule Pagoda and announced over loudspeakers: "We give you 10 minutes to get off the road. Otherwise we will fire."

A handful of protesters who charged the soldiers were beaten back, and the rest suffered the same fate before running away.

Villarosa said the military had been moving swiftly to put down any mass gathering throughout the city.

She said she was not certain if the violence would worsen but "the people are terrified"; yet as they are living under very difficult circumstances "they are brave enough to take it to the street."

Bob Davis, Australia's ambassador to Burma, said he had heard unconfirmed reports that the death toll following two days of violence was "several multiples of the 10 acknowledged by the authorities".

But by Burma's standards the crackdown has so far been muted, in part because the regime knows that killing monks could trigger a maelstrom of fury.

Southeast Asian envoys were told by Burmese authorities yesterday that a no-go zone had been declared around five key Buddhist monasteries, one diplomat said, raising fears of a repeat of 1988, when troops gunned down thousands of peaceful demonstrators and imprisoned the survivors.

Gates were locked, key intersections near monasteries in Rangoon and Mandalay were sealed off with barbed wire, and there was no sign of monks in the streets.

"We were told the security forces had the monks under control and will now turn their attention to civilian protesters," an Asian diplomat said on condition of anonymity, citing protocol.

The government's decision to cut public Internet access, which has played a crucial role in getting news and images of the pro-democracy protests to the outside world, also raised concerns.

Thursday was the most violent day in more than a month of protests, which at their height have brought an estimated 70,000 demonstrators onto the streets. Bloody sandals lay scattered on some streets as protesters fled, shouting: "Give us freedom! Give us freedom!"

Truckloads of troops in riot gear also raided Buddhist monasteries on the outskirts of Rangoon, beating and arresting dozens of monks, witnesses and Western diplomats said.

"I really hate the government. They arrest the monks while they are sleeping," said a 30-year-old service worker who witnessed some of the confrontations from his workplace. "These monks haven't done anything except meditate and pray and help people."

The Nation, Agencies