The world was in shock when in 2001 the Talibans destroyed two ancient colossal Buddha statues in the Afghan region of Bamiyan. Behind those statues, there are caves decorated with precious paintings from 5th to 9th century A.D. The caves also suffered from Taliban destruction, as well as from a severe natural environment, but today they have become the source of a major discovery.

A Buddhist monk involved in the September protests in Burma has called on the world community to stop supporting, recognizing and selling arms to the military-run Burmese government. As VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins reports, U Awbata made his appeal at an international human rights conference on Burma in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.

Police baton-charged a crowd of about 700 anti-junta protesters including students and some Buddhist monks who gathered near a pagoda in Burma's main city Rangoon in defiance of a ban, witnesses say.

China ruled out Tuesday getting involved in events in neighboring Myanmar, where the military junta has threatened to take action against a growing wave of pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks.

President Bush is expected to announce new sanctions against Burma as officials there threaten legal action against Buddhist monks leading the country's largest anti-government protests in nearly 20 years.

Buddhists living in the south of Thailand had to take up arms to protect their families against Muslim extremists. They have found support in Thai Government in this decision, the prime minister said Friday, despite spiraling fears of communal violence in the restive region.