Oct 3, 2007 (DVB)-A man in Magwe division’s Aung Lan township, who shouted a pro-Buddhist slogan after seeing footage of the government’s crackdown on recent protests, was arrested by local authorities on Sunday, according to local residents.

Ko Kyauk Khe (also known as Ko Aung San Oo), a painter and National League for Democracy member in Aung Lan township, was in a local video house on Sunday watching footage from a foreign news broadcasting channel of the government’s crackdown on protests in Rangoon, according to witnesses.

"After seeing the ruling State Peace and Development Council soldiers bashing up protesting monks on TV, he stood up and shouted, ‘Long live the Buddhist religion,’" said witnesses.

He was later arrested by police and Union Solidarity and Development Association members and brought before the township court on charges of defaming the government, a violation of Act 505 of the penal code.

Ko Kyauk Khe claimed that he had shouted the slogan because he felt the government’s behaviour was "a danger to Buddhism", a resident of Aung Lan township, who attended the court hearing on Monday, told DVB.

Ko Kyauk Khe was sent to Thayet prison yesterday.

Reporting by Maung Too