Asia-Pacific News

Tutu likens Myanmar monks to anti-apartheid activists

Sep 25, 2007, 14:33 GMT

Johannesburg - South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Tuesday likened the mass street protests that have mobilized tens of thousands of monks in Myanmar over the past week to the past anti- apartheid movement in his own country.

'It is so like the rolling mass action that eventually toppled apartheid,' the 74-year-old former anti-apartheid campaigner and Nobel Peace Prize laureate said in a statement.

'The courage of the people of Burma is amazing and now they have been joined by their holy men,' Tutu said.

Tutu called on the international community to press authorities in Myanmar to release political detainees, including jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

He also urged the ruling junta in Myanmar to end its crackdown on popular protests and commit to democracy.

'We admire our brave sisters and brothers in Burma/Myanmar and want them to know that we support their peaceful protests to end a vicious rule of oppression and injustice,' he said.

'God bless all those wonderful brave people. Victory is assured. They are on the winning side, the side of freedom, justice and democracy,' he said.