Yangon: A leading dissident Buddhist monk who was among hundreds of political prisoners released last month is to face trial in Myanmar, state media said on Sunday.
Gambira will have to face the charges of squatting in one monastery in Yangon and breaking into two others, which led to him being detained briefly by police earlier this month stated the state-run New Light of Myanmar.
The newspaper said that authorities are taking legal steps to bring (him) to trial.
The monk, who goes by only one name, was taken away by authorities early on February 10 and released that night.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said that given the government's stated commitment to reform and democratisation, we call on Burmese authorities to protect the fundamental freedoms of all its citizens, including all of those who have been recently released from detention.
Since being let out of prison in January, Gambira has breached regulations by breaking into monasteries closed by the government after the monk-led demonstrations, a government official told Agence France Presse(AFP) on the day he was detained.
Myanmar ostensibly civilian government, which came to power in March last year after almost half a century of outright military rule, has surprised critics with its apparent desire to reform and open up to the outside world.
The opposition leader, released from house arrest soon after a 2010 election, has been allowed to run for parliament in April 1 by-elections.
Observers and the international community are set to closely watch the polls after widespread criticism and accusations of cheating in 2010, and have called on the government to ensure they are free and fair.
The 2007 protests that landed Gambira in jail began as small rallies against the rising cost of living but escalated into huge anti-government demonstrations led by crowds of monks.
They posed the biggest challenge to military rule in nearly two decades, leading to a bloody crackdown by the authorities. At least 31 people were killed by security forces while hundreds were beaten and detained.
Gambira will have to face the charges of squatting in one monastery in Yangon and breaking into two others, which led to him being detained briefly by police earlier this month stated the state-run New Light of Myanmar.
The newspaper said that authorities are taking legal steps to bring (him) to trial.
The monk, who goes by only one name, was taken away by authorities early on February 10 and released that night.
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State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said that given the government's stated commitment to reform and democratisation, we call on Burmese authorities to protect the fundamental freedoms of all its citizens, including all of those who have been recently released from detention.
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Since being let out of prison in January, Gambira has breached regulations by breaking into monasteries closed by the government after the monk-led demonstrations, a government official told Agence France Presse(AFP) on the day he was detained.
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Myanmar ostensibly civilian government, which came to power in March last year after almost half a century of outright military rule, has surprised critics with its apparent desire to reform and open up to the outside world.
Advertisement
The opposition leader, released from house arrest soon after a 2010 election, has been allowed to run for parliament in April 1 by-elections.
Advertisement
Observers and the international community are set to closely watch the polls after widespread criticism and accusations of cheating in 2010, and have called on the government to ensure they are free and fair.
The 2007 protests that landed Gambira in jail began as small rallies against the rising cost of living but escalated into huge anti-government demonstrations led by crowds of monks.
They posed the biggest challenge to military rule in nearly two decades, leading to a bloody crackdown by the authorities. At least 31 people were killed by security forces while hundreds were beaten and detained.
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