A Buddhist group claiming links to escalating protests by monks in military-ruled Burma has vowed to continue demonstrations to end what it called the people's suffering.
Monks have risen to the forefront of peaceful demonstrations that began in Yangon on 19 August following a massive hike in fuel prices in the poverty-stricken nation, which has been ruled by the military since 1962.
The protests over the fuel price hikes, which have left many workers unable to even afford bus fare to get to work, have grown into the most sustained challenge to the junta in nearly two decades.
The purported spokesman for the monks refused to give his name but said the group has a nationwide network.
Few details are known about the group, but analysts said it is mainly made up of young monks.
Earlier this month, soldiers beat protesting monks with bamboo sticks in Pakokku, near central Mandalay, prompting young monks to briefly kidnap officials at a monastery.
The Alliance demanded a government apology over the Pakokku incident, and has urged monks not to accept alms from soldiers.
It has also called for monks to stage peaceful protests in major cities and has vowed to escalate marches unless the junta apologises for violence against monks.
More than 1,300 Buddhist monks marched in Yangon, in what was by far their largest show of force in the country's main city since they launched their movement earlier this week.
Monks are important cultural standard-bearers in the devoutly Buddhist country, and were credited with helping rally popular support for a 1988 pro-democracy uprising that was crushed, resulting in hundreds if not thousands of deaths.
