Aug 5, 2008 (DVB), Monks who accepted a meal from the National League for Democracy during last month's Martyrs' Day celebration despite warnings from the authorities' have come under pressure from local officials.

One of the monks said they had come under increased pressure since the Martyrs' Day celebrations.

"Government officials came to our monastery before the celebration and told us not to accept meals from the NLD as their members were destructive elements to our nation who were trying to put us all in danger," the monk said.

"But we accepted the meal anyway and now we are being pressured."

The monk said the authorities had recently come to the monastery to collect the personal details of the monks.

"Maybe because of the 8888 anniversary, there are military trucks parked near our monasteries and we are being watched by soldiers" he said.

"If they come to arrest us, we will just go with them. It is a monk's duty to accept meals from anyone who donates to them , even from beggars."

Reporting by Aye Nai