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Burmese junta claims monks have weapons

The regime claims monastery
raids revealed weapons and sex
aids, reports edward loxton

Burma's ruling generals are cranking up their creaking publicity machinery in a futile attempt to assuage continuing anger at home and abroad over their brutal suppression of the recent pro-democracy demonstrations.

The regime newspaper The New Light of Myanmar  has reported that weapons and sex aids, including porn films, a dildo and and condoms, were found in monastery raids.

The paper - required reading for civil servants but reviled by the general public - admonished monks to "adhere to the laws of God and the government," apparently forgetting that Burmese Buddhism has no place for God or a military regime. It warned the monks that if they violated "these laws" they would face "action".

The newspaper and state television also reported that around 75,000 people had attended four pro-government rallies in

Barricades have been removed from two pagodas that served as focal points for the opposition

various parts of Burma. Townspeople have reported that they are either paid to attend or forced to turn up, with threats of "consequences" if they don't.

Barricades have been removed from two pagodas - Shwedagon and Sule - that were focal points for the demonstrations, but strong troop detachments remained stationed nearby. Raids continued overnight on homes and monasteries in Rangoon and Mandalay. Residents have described "a reign of terror".

At the UN today, the US, Britain and France are expected to press the Security Council to consider a non-binding statement condemning the Burmese regime's crackdown and calling for the release of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other detained pro-democracy activists and the start of a dialogue "without preconditions".

Junta leader Than Shwe has said he is ready to talk to Suu Kyi but has set conditions which her party, the NLD, has said are unacceptable.

Edward Loxton is reporting for The First Post from Chiang Mai, Thailand.
FIRST POSTED OCTOBER 8, 2007