Sittwe: The Burmese junta authorities in Sittwe have beefed up security after anti-government posters appeared calling on people to fight the junta for democracy on the 20th anniversary of the 8-8-88 protests, said a monk on condition of anonymity.

"Now several additional security forces, both police and riot police forces, have been deployed at many key places in Sittwe after some anti-government posters appeared in the city," the monk said.

Most security forces are being deployed at U Ottama garden, a historic monument that honors the monk who first triggered anti-colonial sentiments among the Burmese people. Other security forces are being deployed at Lawkananda pagoda and Bura Gri temple.

"Many anti-government posters painted with monks' pictures were pasted on walls of several shops on Thursday night in Sittwe by unknown groups. The posters encouraged people to fight for democracy on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the 8-8-88 uprising day," the monk said.

August is very important in Burmese history because many historic events happened during the month.

Two important historic events occurred during the month of August. The first is the 8 August national uprising that took place in 1988, and the second is known as the 'rice killing day', in which the revolutionary council led by Ne Win killed over 300 Arakanese people who were demonstrating in the streets of Sittwe demanding rice in 1967.

"The month is important, so the authorities are on high alert everywhere in Burma, because any time anti-government activities could break out somewhere in Burma," the monk said.

Sittwe is also a key city in terms of the opposition to the Burmese military government. Last year, the first monk-led demonstrations broke out in Sittwe on August 28 and were soon followed by demonstrations throughout towns in Burma.