Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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October 8, 2007

Burmese Monks Reluctantly Accept Donations From Military
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=19C7AD4:A6F02AD83191E160959CAFF2CAF730709574F7DCC14957C0 State media say
military dictatorship has donated thousands of dollars, food, medical
supplies to 50 monasteries Burma's state-controlled media say the
country's military dictatorship has donated thousands of dollars to
Buddhist monasteries across the country, ostensibly to promote
reconciliation. The United Nations Security Council is considering a
statement condemning the junta's violent crackdown on monks and other
protesters over the past two weeks. Chad Bouchard reports from
Bangkok.

The New Light of Myanmar newspaper says the Burmese government has
given about $8,000, food and medical supplies to 50 monasteries.







Burmese monk returns to temple in Rangoon, 08 Oct 2007Buddhist monks
began boycotting military donations last month and led peaceful street
protests in Rangoon, Mandalay and other cities. Police stopped the
demonstrations with live gunfire, tear gas, clubs and mass arrests.

The government says it is searching for four monks suspected of
leading the protests.

One of the wanted monks, Ashin Gambiya, told VOA that the Buddhist
clergy were intimidated into accepting the government's money, despite
their boycott.

He says the monks consider the money to be dirty, so they accepted it
but will put it aside and refuse to use it, so their boycott is still
going on.

The ruling military council announced Saturday that 78 more people
have been arrested in connection with the demonstrations.

State media also say pornography and weapons were confiscated during
raids on monasteries.

The government says it has released more than half the people arrested
in the crackdown.

The United Nations' special envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, has
briefed members of the U.N. Security Council after his visit to Burma.

The 15-member Security Council is to debate a draft statement Monday
denouncing Burma's violent response to the peaceful demonstrations and
calling for the release of political detainees.


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