| More than 1000 march in Laputta
Sep 03, 2007 (DVB)—More than 1000 people took to the streets in the Irrawaddy town of Laputta today, to protest the Burmese military’s recent decision to drastically increase fuel prices.
Protestors and eyewitnesses told DVB today that the demonstration was started by just three men—Ko Aung Moe Win, Ko Htay Win and Ko Kyi Then—who began waving placards condemning the price hikes at about 8:00am this morning.
Hundreds of bystanders then joined the protest, pushing the crowd’s numbers up to more than 300 people as Ko Aung Moe Win, Ko Htay Win and Ko Kyi Then gave public speeches.
Later, as the protestors marched through the streets, hundreds more bystanders joined in bringing the number of demonstrators to more than 1000, according to onlookers.
Dr Aye Kyu, an elected member of parliament from Laputta, told DVB that the protest was then stopped by the chairman of the township peace and development council and plain clothes police officers as the demonstrators reached a bus stop near the edge of the town.
“The township chief told the protestors that they wanted them to come for ‘a talk’ with officials. He said the authorities would let them go after peaceful discussions,” Dr Aye Kyu said, adding that the leaders of the protest were seen being driven off in a military jeep.
“The number of civilians that joined the protest was unbelievably large. It was definitely successful,” Dr Aye Kyu said.
Reporting by Aye Naing
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