Protesters rally in London, Spanish cities against Myanmar crackdown
Posted: 30 September 2007 2331 hrs

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LONDON : Hundreds of Myanmar exiles and other people marched in London on Sunday in support of pro-democracy protesters in Myanmar suffering from a violent crackdown.

A Buddhist monk led the march from Trafalgar Square and passed 10 Downing Street, the offices of Prime Minister Gordon Brown who has been pressing the military junta to end the crackdown.

Myanmar exiles marched along with banners, flags and two large portraits of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi who has spent most of the last 18 years under house arrest.

A police spokeswoman did not have an estimate for the number of people taking part in the demonstration, but said it appeared to have taken place peacefully and there were no arrests.

In a protest on Thursday organised by London-based human rights group Amnesty International, hundreds of people gathered outside the Myanmar embassy in London to demand international action to end the violence.

John Jackson, a founding member of the Burma (Myanmar) Campaign UK, who has met three times with Suu Kyi in Myanmar, expressed hope on Sunday that sustained international pressure would bring change.

"In Burma, the organisation, discipline and strength of the demonstrations have been the most remarkable thing," he said.

"That is what makes me think that this time it is not a movement that will simply just be put down by troops on the streets.

"People have been pushed to a place where levels of poverty and unemployment are so bad that they are determined that this time they will succeed."

Jackson added that there was evidence of cracks appearing in the military, with some troops refusing to fire on protesters.

In Madrid, hundreds of people marched through seven Spanish cities on Sunday to protest against Myanmar's violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

The largest protest was held in Madrid where some 500 people marched to demand that the junta stop the violence and free political prisoners including Suu Kyi.

Demonstrators used dozens of candles to spell out "Human rights for Myanmar", public radio RNE reported.

Protests organised by the Spanish branch of global human rights group Amnesty International were also held in Castelldefels, Cordoba, La Coruna, Menorca, Molins de Rey and Tarragona.

Demonstrations were held on Saturday in four Spanish cities, including Seville. - AFP/de