Nov 22, 2007 (DVB), Following a disturbance at a hip hop concert on Sunday, Burmese rapper G-Tone and his band Cyclone have been banned from performing on stage for one year.

The Music Association imposed the ban against G-Tone and the two other group members, Thuta and Pyi Tha, after police action against the rapper sparked a riot at the concert venue.

G-Tone had removed his shirt during his performance to reveal a tattoo on his back of two hands clasped in prayer holding prayer beads.

Police officials handcuffed the rapper as soon as he left the stage, having been persuaded by other musicians at the event to wait until his set was over.

G-Tone was not taken into custody by the police, but their actions towards him provoked an angry reaction from the crowd.

The police responded by beating audience members, escalating the incident.

Hip hop star Yatha, who tried to intervene to stop police from beating concert-goers, was also warned by the authorities not to get involved in this kind of activity again.

Reporting by Aye Nai