Burma: Saffron Revolution Leader Disrobed

Press Release: Terry Evans

22 August 2008

Burma: Saffron Revolution Leader Disrobed

The leader of the All Burma Monks' Alliance (ABMA), Ashin Gambira, has been disrobed and charged with multiple criminal offences by Burma's military junta.

Gambira, who led last year's mass protests, appeared in court on Wednesday at the notorious Insein Prison in Rangoon, where he has been detained since his arrest last November. He faces numerous charges under the State Offence Act 505, Immigration Act 13/1, Illegal Organisation Act 17/1, Electronic Act 303 A and Organisation Act 6. His lawyer said the charges relate to the contravention of immigration laws, contacting banned organisations, illegal contacts with foreign organisations through the Internet and other offences.

Ashin Gambira was instrumental in moblising hundreds of thousands of monks in the "Saffron Revolution" of August 2007. Burma's brutal junta killed thousands of monks during the uprising; thousands more languish in prison or have simple vanished.

ENDS

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