US urges Myanmar to release detained monk

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The United States on Friday urged the authorities in Myanmar to release a prominent Buddhist monk who was one of the leaders of a 2007 anti-government uprising.

"We are deeply concerned that the Burmese (Myanmar) authorities removed U Gambira from a monastery" in the capital Yangon early on Friday, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters.

"We urge the government of Burma to release him immediately and unconditionally and to provide clarification on the purpose of his detention," Nuland added

Given the "government's stated commitment to reform and democratization, we call on Burmese authorities to protect the fundamental freedoms of all its citizens, including all of those recently released from detention," she said.

The government's release of about 500 political prisoners since October has been hailed by Western countries, which have long demanded the freeing of such detainees before they would consider lifting sanctions.

A quasi-civilian regime, which came to power in March last year after almost half a century of outright military rule, has impressed observers with its apparent desire to reform and open up to the outside world.

Gambira was one of hundreds of political prisoners released in January, cutting short a 68-year jail term imposed for his key role in the 2007 ‘Saffron Revolution,’ which was brutally crushed by the former junta.

Since he was freed, Gambira has breached regulations by breaking into monasteries closed by the government after the mass monk-led demonstrations, a government official said on Friday on condition of anonymity.