THE government has accused foreign-based groups of instigating protests to create instability in Myanmar.

“The government has got information that external anti-government groups are giving directives and providing various sorts of assistance to internal anti-government groups to stir up mass demonstration and instability,” the state-owned New Light of Myanmar claimed on September 7 following an incident in Pakkoku, about 300 miles (480km) northwest of Yangon.

The report said about 50 monks had attacked officials who visited their monastery to hold talks and had set fire to four government vehicles.

It said the incident occurred a day after more than 100 monks had marched through Pakokku, chanting slogans against increases in commodity prices.
The report said the monks were also demanding the release of people detained during protests in other parts of the country against fuel price increases which took effect on August 15.

The report said security officials had fired into the air three times to disperse the protesting monks.

The report also criticised the National League for Democracy, saying its members had participated in the protest.

It claimed the objective of the NLD was to create a situation similar to that in 1988, when violent protests erupted against the then socialist government.