Burmese authorities take away activist monk for questioning

Philippine Times Friday 10th February, 2012

YANGON - Less than a month after his release from jail, a Burmese activist monk was taken away by the authorities for questioning early Friday, according to reports.

U Gambira, who was released along with hundreds of other political prisoners on Jan 13, was taken away for questioning by a group of 10 plainclothes men early in the morning from his monastery.

AFP quoting an official said that Gambira has "breached regulations" by breaking into monasteries that were shut down following the mass monk-led demonstrations in 2007.

The official, who did not want to be quoted, said Gambira had "broken the locks of three monasteries since his release."

Since his release, Gambira has been expressing skepticism about the reforms the government has launched, including elections that are to take place April 1.

Gambira, 31, is a leader of the All-Burmese Monks Alliance. He was one of the leaders of the massive anti-government demonstrations in 2007 that swept the country and was joined by thousands of people.

The agitations were crushed brutally by the Myanmar authorities. As many as 200 monks, including Gambira, were arrested.

He had been jailed for 68 years, including 12 of hard labour.

Gambira was released last month as part of government reforms aimed to correct its widely criticized human rights record and persuade the West to lift sanctions.

Appreciating the efforts of the quasi-civilian government that came to power in March last year, the US announced in January that it would exchange ambassadors with Burma, also known as Myanmar, for the first time since 1988.