Jul 30, 2008 (DVB), Nine monks have reportedly been arrested by authorities while waiting at Rangoon railway station to return to their monasteries for a retreat to mark Buddhist lent, according to an eyewitness.

A Rangoon resident who witnessed the incident said the railway police arrested the nine monks as they arrived at the station on 15 July.

"The monks did not come as a group. They came separately and were at the railway station before the train departed," the witness said.

"They appeared to be on their own and were not seen to be communicating with each other or doing something together," he said.

"But the railway police came and arrested the nine monks and sent them to Insein prison."

The Rangoon resident said he did not know if the monks had been charged with any offence.

DVB is investigating the incident and trying to establish which monasteries the monks belonged to and where they were heading before their arrests.

Reporting by Khin Hnin Htet