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Burma: Thousands dead in massacre of the monks dumped in the jungle
Last updated at 14:07pm on 01.10.07Thousands of protesters are dead and the bodies of hundreds of executed monks have been dumped in the jungle, a former intelligence officer for Burma's ruling junta has revealed.
The most senior official to defect so far, Hla Win, said: "Many more people have been killed in recent days than you've heard about. The bodies can be counted in several thousand."
Mr Win, who spoke out as a Swedish diplomat predicted that the revolt has failed, said he fled when he was ordered to take part in a massacre of holy men. He has now reached the border with Thailand.
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Slaughter: Executed monks have been dumped in the jungle
Meanwhile, the United Nations special envoy was in Burma's new capital today seeking meetings with the ruling military junta.
Ibrahim Gambari met detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon yesterday. But he has yet to meet the country's senior generals as he attempts to halt violence against monks and pro-democracy activists.
It is anticipated the meeting will happen tomorrow.
Heavily-armed troops and police flooded the streets of Rangoon during Mr Ibrahim's visit to prevent new protests.
Mr Gambari met some of the country's military leaders in Naypyidaw yesterday and has returned there for further talks. But he did not meet senior general Than Shwe or his deputy Maung Aye - and they have issued no comment.
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Tensions: People gather outside a temple after a police raid today
Reports from exiles along the frontier confirmed that hundreds of monks had simply "disappeared" as 20,000 troops swarmed around Rangoon yesterday to prevent further demonstrations by religious groups and civilians.
Word reaching dissidents hiding out on the border suggested that as well as executions, some 2,000 monks are being held in the notorious Insein Prison or in university rooms which have been turned into cells.
There were reports that many were savagely beaten at a sports ground on the outskirts of Rangoon, where they were heard crying for help.
Others who had failed to escape disguised as civilians were locked in their bloodstained temples.
There, troops abandoned religious beliefs, propped their rifles against statues of Buddha and began cooking meals on stoves set up in shrines.
In stark contrast, the streets of Rangoon and Mandalay - centres of the attempted saffron revolution last week - were virtually deserted.
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Checkpoint: Police outside the house of opposition leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi today
Executed: The body of a Buddhist monk floats in a river
A Swedish diplomat who visited Burma during the protests said last night that in her opinion the revolution has failed.
Liselotte Agerlid, who is now in Thailand, said that the Burmese people now face possibly decades of repression. "The Burma revolt is over," she added.
"The military regime won and a new generation has been violently repressed and violently denied democracy. The people in the street were young people, monks and civilians who were not participating during the 1988 revolt.
"Now the military has cracked down the revolt, and the result may very well be that the regime will enjoy another 20 years of silence, ruling by fear."
Mrs Agerlid said Rangoon is heavily guarded by soldiers.
"There are extremely high numbers of soldiers in Rangoon's streets," she added. "Anyone can see it is absolutely impossible for any demonstration to gather, or for anyone to do anything.
"People are scared and the general assessment is that the fight is over. We were informed from one of the largest embassies in Burma that 40 monks in the Insein prison were beaten to death today and subsequently burned."
The diplomat also said that three monasteries were raided yesterday afternoon and are now totally abandoned.
At his border hideout last night, 42-year-old Mr Win said he hopes to cross into Thailand and seek asylum at the Norwegian Embassy.
The 42-year-old chief of military intelligence in Rangoon's northern region, added: "I decided to desert when I was ordered to raid two monasteries and force several hundred monks onto trucks.
"They were to be killed and their bodies dumped deep inside the jungle. I refused to participate in this."
With his teenage son, he made his escape from Rangoon, leaving behind his wife and two other sons.
He had no fears for their safety because his brother is a powerful general who, he believes, will defend the family.
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Protests: But the situation inside Burma remains unclear
Mr Win's defection will raise a faint hope among tens of thousands of Burmese who have fled to villages along the Thai border.
They will feel others in the army may follow him and turn on their ageing leaders, Senior General Than Shwe and his deputy, Vice Senior General Maung Aye.
Reader views (26)
This reminds me a lot of the Tiananmen Square massacre in the People's Republic almost 10 years ago as well. I've seen a documentary on Burma and it is Great Britain who is the 2nd largest importer of goods to this country. Tourism is what also gives money to the military after forced labour of its citizens to create those tourist sites. Bush should send troops to Burma because then we would see that we are actually fighting 'terrorism'.
- Joseph Classen, Newark, NJ
I agree completly with Gerald M. from Nebraska, this is the sort of liberation the US should be undertaking, or in Darfur...not occupation as we've done in Iraq. But then,there's not much oil in Burma, is there?
- Ed M., Portland, Or.
This article shows just how cruel these tyrants are. To deny the freedom of expression of these gentle people, by slaughtering them, is henious. Hell is on earth. But actions must reap forth: these soldier savages will only find themselves living a life that will never know beauty - they have destroyed all that is wonderous in killing the monks. The soldiers are now faced with their actions that will bring them a future birth that will be more savage to them: the boomerang of Karmic repercussion will swing back smack into their own vile life.
The Holy people have done nothing other than ask for all their people to be treated with love and respect; for their efforts, they are murdered. Not much of a democracy. Putrid. May the soldiers rot in hell. At least the monks will have a wonderful rebirth, for all their kindness and loving actions this birth.
- Jaya Lewis, Gold Coast, Australia
The largest foreign supplier of consumer goods to the United States, Red China, exercises full control over the ruling military dictators of Burma. Our communist trade partner could stop this madness tomorrow if they so desired. By failing to urge the Chinese to step in and halt the massacre of Burmese pro-democracy civilians and thousands of Buddhist holy men, Washington is also indirectly culpable for this human tragedy. Did not our President Bush proclaim that is our responsibility to support democracy in all nations of the world? Aung San Suu Kyi has been waiting almost two decades to take her rightful position as President of a free Burma having been elected to that position in nationwide elections by an 82% majority. Mr. President if you actually mean what you say, do something right before you leave office. Create that legacy you crave. Pull our troops from Iraq and send them to liberate Burma!
- Gerald Maclennon, Lincoln, NE
Meetings and Press releases will not help the Burmese people attain Freedom. Now is the right time for the UN and/or the US to prove to the world that they are for democracy.
The Filipino people are one with the Burmese people in their struggle for democracy. People Power is what you need in Burma! Unite as one Nation and Fight for freedom!
- Jhuly, Philippines
Tragically, the West's threatening to boycott the Bejing Olympics would do more to fix the situation in Burma than any toothless 'sanctions' on the ruling generals' personal wealth.
- Sadbuttrue, Canada
Not sure that Tim knows what he is talking about - there is plenty of oil off the shores of Burma, and in Total Oil has prominent activities there.
- Laurence Parry, Plymouth, MI
Tim in Silicon Valley, I point out that it took us 11 years to finally make up our minds to go into Iraq. In 11 more years perhaps we will do something about Burma. I also point out that the congress you elected has failed to do squat about Burma or Darfur. After all, only the congress has the right to declare war. Finally I will point out that the US military is too small to handle the commitments they already have in Iraq and Afghanistan. I see only one solution. You are going to have to go down and sign up, Tim. Your country needs you! – Master Sergeant Terry Thrasher, USAR
- Terry Thrasher, Fairfield, CA
Why has the US, who was quick to "intervene" when Saddam Hussein was torturing his own people, done nothing to protect the lives of innocent civilians and religious monks who want nothing more than democracy? Oh, right! I forgot! No oil in Burma.
- Tim, Silicon Valley, CA
Our revolution will never be over. My grand father fought for independence in 1944. My father protested in 1976. My brother protested in 1988. I am protesting now and my son will be protesting when his time comes. Fight for the freedom! Live a life with dignity!
- A Burmese, Singapore
Where is the world community now? Surely we should have helped the Burmese rather than gone storming into Iraq.
- Ice, Wales
I came back from Burma about 3 weeks ago. I did not expect that small protest caused by raise oil price may turn up in such a big massacre. Poor people! They have not got chance to survive, they need support from NATO or other countries, they will not manage!
- Maciej Twardowski, London, England
Bosnia, Darfur, Burma. More massacres of the innocent as the West stands by watching.
- Philip, London, England
What is happening in Burma is a disgrace and the world stands by and watches.
I am disgusted by the reaction of world leaders to date and the lack of any real action.
- Roberta, Croydon
One of the reasons Mr Bush decided to invade Iraq was to remove a dictator who killed his own people. Where are Mr Bush's morals now as he stands by and watches the slaughter of innocents in Burma?
- Steve, Poway, USA
If this revolt "fails" it will be only the fault of the nations of the world. Our lack of moral responsibility will be our own demise if we do not make steps towards change.
- Wesley Robinson, Avon, USA
One can't have it both ways. We decapitated the regimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, and are now blamed for the consequences. We haven't done so in Burma (or Sudan or Zimbabwe), and are likewise being blamed for the consequences.
Some problems don't have easy solutions. Some maybe don't have solutions at all.
- Nigel, London
I don' t think that the revolt is over- if the media and international community keep pressure on the military junta, there may still be hope for change.
- Lin, US
So the World stood by and let this happen - I am disgusted. This is the kind of government that we should have gone in to over throw!
- Jk, London
Wheres Mr Bush now!!! oh wait there is no oil
- Ben, London, Uk
Of course the UN can't send any troops in, Bush would never allow it, Burma has no oil.
- Terry Roll, London
Why's everyone calling it Burma? Hasn't it been Myanmar for several years? (or is it because no one knew where Myanmar was)
- Marianne, SW France
Why can't the so called developed countries do something before it is too late?. How long should they wait?
- Jay, Surrey, UK
This is horrifying. Why isn't this news being reported by other newspapers and news shows?
- Rachael North, England
This is when cruise missiles come in handy.
- Mike, London
The revolt is only the beginning. If the media keep announcing that the revolt is over, how will Burma ever reach democracy? Please keep your support for change in Burma.
- Eunice, New York, USA
