Burmese military junta authorities in Sittwe have ordered many video halls to stop showing films to the public after a rumour began spreading that monks in the city are planning to gather at the video halls to stage a demonstration, said a monk from Sittwe.
"Most of the video halls in Sittwe were closed down by the authorities, except for some video halls that are close to them, after rumors spread that monks will be staging a demonstration after gathering at video halls," the monk said.
According to a source close to monks in Sittwe, some monks had plans to stage a demonstration in Sittwe on August 29 after gathering at some video halls in Kathay Wra Ward in Sittwe.
However, the plan was abandoned by the monks after the authorities deployed many armed forces in the ward and prohibited the showing of films on the 29th.
"Since then, the authorities have not allowed most video halls in Sittwe to show films to the public, especially during the day time, after authorities received information that monks have plans to stage a protest in Sittwe," the monk said.
In Sittwe, there are over 100 video halsl. It is a lucrative business in Sittwe because the low cost makes it a common pastime of many poor people.
The monk added that monks in Sittwe have been trying to stage a demonstration but all their plans have been foiled by the authorities before they had a chance to start, so monks in Sittwe are looking for alternative places to gather for demonstrations. Video halls were targeted as an assembly place for a demonstration.
The authorities in Sittwe found out about the plan of the monks and subsequently prohibited the video halls from operating. They have also deployed armed forces in many monasteries and temples in order to crackdown on potential demonstrations.
Meanwhile, some monks in Sittwe have reportedly formed a new organization by the name of "The Valiant Young Monk Committee", with the aim of fighting for democracy against the Burmese military government. There are at least 18 young monks in the committee.
