Mar 26, 2008 (DVB), The All-Burmese Monks Alliance released a statement today urging the people of Burma to vote No at the upcoming national referendum in May.

ABMA secretary U Htarwara said the statement was released to mark six months since the government's violent crackdown on protestors began on 26 September 2007.

"On 26 September 2007, monks, civilians and students staging peaceful demonstrations in Burma were met by the government’s brutal crackdown which left many of them dead or arrested," U Htarwara said.

"Now, six months on, the ABMA would like to urge the people of Burma to continue their fight against the military government."

U Htarwara said the group had also urged the government to release detained protestors and investigate the deaths caused during the crackdown.

"Also in the statement, we demanded that the government release everyone detained in connection with the Saffron Revolution, and find and take action against the culprits who killed demonstrators during the crackdown," he said.

The statement also urged monks across Burma to continue their boycott against the government due to the crackdown and continued detention of monks, civilians and students who took part in the protests.

The ABMA said people and monks from 65 townships in Burma staged a total of 252 demonstrations during the Saffron Revolution in September.

Reporting by Aye Nai