Buddhist monks in Bodhgaya protest against Myanmar junta
Bodhgaya, Nov 26 : Buddhist monks, nuns and students staged a demonstration here on Monday against Myanmar's military junta for continuing their crackdown on pro-democracy activities in Yangon.
Monks and nuns staged a silent demonstration to express their solidarity with the Buddhist monks jailed in Myanmar and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Monk Pragyadeep said that the Myanmar’s military government was suppressing the demands for establishing democracy there.
“The military junta is trying to suppress the demands for democracy, therefore we are organising these protests everywhere so that our voice can reach their ears and democracy can return in Myanmar," said Pragyadeep.
The protestors also urged India to change its policy on Myanmar.
"We want India to review its present policy towards Myanmar, if they want a long term relationship. This is not good for the future of India-Myanmar relationship," said Kyaw Than of the All Burma Students League.
The monks in Gaya have scheduled marches for three days, and have decided to stage an indefinite sit-in protest outside the Bodh Gaya temple.
Myanmar’s military regime is facing unprecedented pressure for establishing democratic rule in the country.
Myanmarese refugees in India have been staging sporadic protests demanding democracy in their country, since September when the junta cracked down on pro-democracy protests in Yangoon.
New Delhi has been cautious in its approach towards Myanmar during the recent spurt of violence there, and has not supported the idea of imposing sanction against the junta there.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh during his visit to Singapore for sixth India-ASEAN Summit and the third East Asia Summit, last week, met his Myanmarese counterpart Thein Sein and urged him to work for national reconciliation in his country. (ANI)