Recently released dissident monk rearrested in Myanmar

Feb 10, 2012, 7:39 GMT

Yangon - Myanmar authorities on Friday apprehended a Buddhist monk who was one of the most high-profile political prisoners they released in January, police said.

A police official confirmed that Gambira had been taken in for questioning but gave no details and requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The outspoken dissident had reportedly been reopening monasteries that the government had closed after a 2007 monk-led uprising.

Gambira was one of 302 political prisoners released January 13 in a move hailed by Western observers as a major step towards political reform and international acceptance for the once-pariah state.

The monk, 32, whose real name is Sandawbartha, was a leader of the anti-government protests in 2007 when thousands of Buddhist monks marched against the then-ruling military junta's economic mismanagement and political repression in Yangon.

He was arrested in late 2007 and sentenced to 68 years in jail, including 12 of hard labour.

When released, Gambira expressed relief but said the country 'still has a long way to go.'

'Although they are releasing prisoners now, they still have characteristics of the dictatorship,' the monk told the Norway-based exile broadcaster Democratic Voice of Burma. 'What kind of democracy is this? They had to wait until today to release us.'