Sittwe: Monks in Sittwe have warned members of the Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA) and Swan Ar Shin not to disrupt plans of monks when they decide to protest against the military regime.
 
"The members of the USDA and Swan Ar Shin are silent now in Sittwe as the monks are warning them not to disrupt their plans to protest against the military government," a student from Sittwe said.
 
Some members of the USDA and Swan Ar Shin in Sittwe were involved in disturbing monks during last September's protests, but this year they are yet to be seen by the public.
 
"They are silent after the monks' warning. Monks have warned the SPDC followers like the USDA and Swan Ar Shin that they would face great danger if they disrupt the monks' plans in cooperation with the authorities," he said.
 
Another source said that because Sittwe is not a big town, people can easily identify who is a member of the USDA or Swan Ar Shin if they disrupt the monks or any other protesters. "Because the members of USDA and Swan Ar Shin are aware that monks can act against them anytime in Sittwe because they are not armed with weapons the whole day. So they are afraid to attack the monks."
 
Another politician from Sittwe said it is not just the monks' warning that has silenced them, but also because people from every level of society in Burma are dissatisfied with the military government because the country is getting poorer by the day.
 
He added that because of this public discontent, USDA and Swan Ar Shin members are not as willing to cooperate with the armed forces in cracking down on demonstrators this time.
 
In Sittwe, monks were preparing to stage demonstrations in the month of August, but there were no members of the USDA and Swan Ar Shin who tied to disrupt the protests.