Aug 13, 2008 (DVB), Nine monks arrested by authorities at Rangoon railway station last month have been sentenced to two years' imprisonment each on charges of bringing the Sasana into disrepute.

According to family members of political inmates in Insein prison, the monks were sentenced shortly after their arrests on 15 July.

"They were brought into a court hearing soon after they were arrested and then given a two-year sentence each," a family member said.

"Authorities detained the monks for gathering at the railway station but did not give any other reasons," he said.

"All the monks remained unidentified , no one knows their names, where they were from and who their lay supporters were."

The nine monks were arrested while waiting at the railway station to return to their monasteries for a retreat to mark Buddhist lent, according to a witness.

Insein prison was unavailable for comment.

Reporting by Naw Say Phaw