- Title: MYANMAR: Myanmar footage of September crackdown
- Date: 13th October 2007
- Summary: (W3) UNKNOWN LOCATION, MYANMAR (RECENT) (REUTERS - NO ACCESS ISRAEL) MAN SHOWS INJURIES
- Embargoed: 28th October 2007 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Myanmar
- Country: Myanmar
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAEMZKI4E13X2MLUAJ3PLO38ITY
- Story Text: Video shot by pro-democracy activists in Myanmar, showing monks playing a central role in September's demonstrations and the crackdown that followed, has been smuggled out of the country.
Footage recently smuggled out of Myanmar shows gripping scenes filmed during a military crackdown on pro-democracy protests in September.
It illustrates the leading role in the protests played by Myanmar's monks, and the popular support for them in defiance of the country's ruling military junta.
The video was shot by pro-democracy activists and obtained by journalist Yotam Feldman, who covered the demonstrations for Israel's Haaretz newspaper before authorities expelled him from Myanmar.
The footage shows Buddhist monks taking to the streets of Yangon. Their protest marches are flanked by thousands of civilians, many of them applauding. Other civilians join the marches, demanding democracy and waving the bright red "fighting peacock" flag, emblem of the student unions that spearheaded the last popular uprising, in 1988.
As in 1988, Myanmar's military rulers deployed the security forces to suppress the protests. On September 27, state television reported that nine protesters had been killed and 11 wounded in Yangon. Human rights groups and Western governments say the death toll is likely to have been far higher.
The footage shows soldiers using gunfire to disperse the crowds and rounding up protesters.
One brief section of video shows a man displaying wounds he says he received during one of the demonstrations.
Hundreds of people are believed to have been arrested during the crackdown. Many, including monks, were taken to Mandalay prison. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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