September 26, Akyab: For the first time yesterday, the Muslim community joined a protest led by monks in Akyab after five major demonstrations broke out in the Arakan State's capital, Burma since August 28, said a resident.
"I saw over 1000 Muslims march the streets of Akyab along with several monks and Buddhist people forming human chains," the resident said.
There were not only Muslim men but women participating in the demonstration that was staged by monks, despite the military authorities warning to monks not to protest any further on the streets, a source said.
The Burmese military junta on Monday warned monks not to continue their demonstrations in the streets, but many monks in Akyab led over 5000 people in staging a protest defying the warnings.
Many people in Akyab were worried about yesterday's demonstration as the authorities had threatened a crack down on demonstrators, the source added.
Many townspeople welcomed the Muslim community joining the protests along with the Buddhist community to show unity among the Arakanese people.
"We are a family and we are travelers in the same boat. We are all suffering from economic hardship during this present military regime so we Burmese citizens need to be united without regard to religion, class, or race," a town elder said.
The demonstration started at 1 p.m. and over 5000 people in ma participated. The protesters shouted anti-junta slogans. The regime increased prices of fuel disregarding the difficulties faced by the people.
The demonstration ended peacefully at 3:30 p.m. without any intervention by the military authorities
Source: Narinjara News