Burma's 'Saffron Revolution' leader to face legal action over 'squatting' charges

Rangoon, Feb 20 (ANI): A prominent dissident monk in Burma, who helped organise the "Saffron Revolution", a 2007 anti-government uprising led by Buddhist monks against the former-ruling junta, will face fresh legal action for illegally 'squatting' in a monastery.

Shin Gambira, who was released as part of an amnesty last month, is accused of staying in a monastery that had been sealed by the authorities and of breaking into two others.

Gambira, one of the leaders of the All-Burmese Monks Alliance, was arrested in November 2007, weeks after the monk-led 'Saffron Revolution' protests were crushed.

Less than three weeks later, he was sentenced to 68 years, including 12 of hard labour, The BBC reports.

He was one of 651 people freed on 13 January in the most significant release of political prisoners since the country began a series of democratic reforms with the aim of encouraging the lifting of sanctions imposed by the European Union and United States.n interviews after his release, Gambira expressed deep scepticism about reforms taking place in Burma.

According to a report by the New Light, the senior monks 'wished for legal actions' against him after he admonished them for not helping jailed monks.

Reports in state media also accused Gambira of rejoining his religious order without requesting authorization. (ANI)