Burmese demonstrator takes refuge in embassy

A Burmese man took refuge inside the British Embassy in the capital Rangoon today after being chased by policemen while staging a political protest.

He was still in the embassy eight hours after the incident, and government officials were negotiating with British diplomats to get him out, presumably to arrest him.

Sources said the diplomats were apparently seeking assurances from authorities about the protester’s well being.

A government statement said “at 9:30 this morning two males, one of them in monk’s robes, holding a fighting peacock flag started shouting in front of the embassy.”

The fighting peacock is the symbol of the pro-democracy movement, indicating that the two men were demonstrating against Burma’s military junta.

The government statement said they “tried to disrupt peace, stability and tranquility,” but did not elaborate.

It said security personnel arrested the man in the monk’s robes while the other ran into the embassy compound. It said both men were believed to be from Pago, 50 miles north of Rangoon.

Embassy staff said they have been instructed by their superiors not to speak to anyone about the incident.

Burmese military rulers, who have been in power since 1962, do not tolerate public demonstrations against the government.