Police Deploy to Key Places in Taungup

Taungup: Many police constables have been deployed in key places in Taungup after a public demonstration was foiled by authorities yesterday, reports a resident.

"Many police constables with full equipment are still deployed at Faungdaw Oo temple and the central market from yesterday, but the situation is normal today," he said.

The central market was open this morning after being closed by authorities yesterday when protesters had gathered in front of the market to form a procession and march in the streets against the military government.

Yesterday, people around Taungup Township had plans to stage a demonstration in Taungup, but the protest was foiled after government authorities intercepted and blocked the procession.

Many security forces, including police and army personnel, blocked the entrance gates of Taungup yesterday to prevent people coming from rural areas to join the demonstration.

"Our program failed yesterday but we have not given up our plan. We are going to stage another demonstration in the near future," he said, adding, " Because we are unable to tolerated the government oppression of our people who are now facing many social difficulties such as poverty."

The demonstration was arranged to demand the release of political prisoners from the town, including some members of the NLD, who are being detained at Thandwe prison, but most people coming from rural Taungup to join the demonstration were demanding a stop the forced purchase of rice from farmers and the forced cultivation of sunflowers in a government project.

People from Taungup gave an ultimatum to the military government one month ago by hanging posters in the town stating that they would be staging a demonstration if the government does not change the political situation in 2007. The demonstration emerged a month after the ultimatum was issued to no apparent effect.

Taungup in Arakan State played an active role in September's monk-led "Saffron Revolution" and many demonstrations broke out in the township.

A political analyst said the demonstrations will emerge again in Taungup after the authority withdraws the police force from key places and reduces the security in the town, because "people from Taungup are united and they are at the forefront of the Burmese democracy movement."