'Pro-government marches' in Burma
The pro-government rallies have taken place in the city of Rangoon
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Saturday, 13, Oct 2007 11:34
Thousands of Burmese citizens have participated in marches in favour of the military government in Rangoon.
A few weeks ago the city of Rangoon was the scene of large-scale anti-establishment protests as monks led a peaceful campaign against the ruling junta.
The marches last month, which initially started as a demonstration against an increase in fuel prices, turned into a demonstration against the government, forcing a state-sponsored crackdown which led to the deaths of several people and the detainment of hundreds of monks.
In contrast, protesters at today's rallies chanted slogans against Western governments and denounced "internal and destructive elements".
The AFP news agency reports that people were being paid to attend the pro-government rallies and were being transported to sites to ensure their participation.
It also cites a resident of the area as saying that factory employees had been told to send a group of at least 50 people to the event.
The pro-government demonstrations come ahead of UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari's return to the region. He had previously met with members of the military junta as well as opposition activist Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest, during a visit in the wake of the junta's action against demonstrators.
He is expected to make another visit to the southeast Asian country after the UN security council condemning the violent suppression of protests.