Prominent Student Leaders Arrested
By Wai Moe October 13, 2007
Prominent leaders of the 88
Generation Students group, who led protests in August, were arrested at a hiding place in Rangoon on Saturday morning, said dissident sources.
The leaders, who were arrested on October 12, were named as Htay Kywe, Mie Mie and Aung Thu. A fourth person, Ko Ko, who helped them hide, was also arrested last night, said the sources.
Another leader of the group, Soe Tun, told The Irrawaddy that he heard news of the arrest today and has been trying several times to contact them. “But I have not been able to reach them,” said Soe Tun from his hiding place.
“We have asked the international community many times to help us and to monitor the detainees’ situation at detention centers. Former student leaders, such as Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi have spent more than 15 years behind bars. At the very least, the International Committee of the Red Cross should be able to visit them immediately,” said Soe Tun.
Thirteen leaders of the 88 Generation Students group were arrested during an overnight operation on August 21, after they had led a march against the junta’s increased fuel prices.
“The health of each of the former student leaders has already deteriorated since their previous prison term. So I would like to request the International Community again—please take real steps to stop the junta’s brutal acts and help the victims,” said Soe Tun.
“The people of Burma have given their lives for democracy and hoped the international community would really help; but nothing has happened yet,” he added.
Bo Kyi, Joint Secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), a human rights group, claimed that the arrested leaders would be tortured at interrogation centers. Htay Kywe’s health is reportedly not good and a concern. He had a stomach operation while he served his 15-year imprisonment.
“These kinds of unjust arrests must be stopped. If not, the Burmese face more suffering,” said Bo Kyi. “Only statements without action from the UN Security Council will not stop the junta’s violent acts on Burmese citizens. We want to see more practical action from the Security Council.”
Htay Kywe was first arrested in 1991 and was incarcerated in Rangoon’s notorious Insein Prison for 15 years. He was transferred to Tharrawaddy Prison in 1995 and finished his jail term in July 2001. But he was continually detained by authorities under the “Protection of the State from Threat” Act 10 A, which allows the military authorities the right to detain suspects arbitrarily. He was released in October 2004, but had been in hiding since August.
Mie Mie became involved in the movement when she was still a high school student. During the 1996 student demonstrations, she was arrested and sentenced to seven years imprisonment. She spent about one year in Insein Prison and was then transferred to Tharrawaddy Prison in Pegu Division.
Aung Thu was arrested for the first time in March 1988. He was arrested again in 1990 and was sentenced to five years imprisonment, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
Meanwhile another activist, Aung Gyi, was arrested during an overnight operation by soldiers on Friday.
Prominent leaders of the 88
Generation Students group, who led protests in August, were arrested at a hiding place in Rangoon on Saturday morning, said dissident sources.The leaders, who were arrested on October 12, were named as Htay Kywe, Mie Mie and Aung Thu. A fourth person, Ko Ko, who helped them hide, was also arrested last night, said the sources.
Another leader of the group, Soe Tun, told The Irrawaddy that he heard news of the arrest today and has been trying several times to contact them. “But I have not been able to reach them,” said Soe Tun from his hiding place.
“We have asked the international community many times to help us and to monitor the detainees’ situation at detention centers. Former student leaders, such as Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi have spent more than 15 years behind bars. At the very least, the International Committee of the Red Cross should be able to visit them immediately,” said Soe Tun.
Thirteen leaders of the 88 Generation Students group were arrested during an overnight operation on August 21, after they had led a march against the junta’s increased fuel prices.
“The health of each of the former student leaders has already deteriorated since their previous prison term. So I would like to request the International Community again—please take real steps to stop the junta’s brutal acts and help the victims,” said Soe Tun.
“The people of Burma have given their lives for democracy and hoped the international community would really help; but nothing has happened yet,” he added.
Bo Kyi, Joint Secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), a human rights group, claimed that the arrested leaders would be tortured at interrogation centers. Htay Kywe’s health is reportedly not good and a concern. He had a stomach operation while he served his 15-year imprisonment.
“These kinds of unjust arrests must be stopped. If not, the Burmese face more suffering,” said Bo Kyi. “Only statements without action from the UN Security Council will not stop the junta’s violent acts on Burmese citizens. We want to see more practical action from the Security Council.”
Htay Kywe was first arrested in 1991 and was incarcerated in Rangoon’s notorious Insein Prison for 15 years. He was transferred to Tharrawaddy Prison in 1995 and finished his jail term in July 2001. But he was continually detained by authorities under the “Protection of the State from Threat” Act 10 A, which allows the military authorities the right to detain suspects arbitrarily. He was released in October 2004, but had been in hiding since August.
Mie Mie became involved in the movement when she was still a high school student. During the 1996 student demonstrations, she was arrested and sentenced to seven years imprisonment. She spent about one year in Insein Prison and was then transferred to Tharrawaddy Prison in Pegu Division.
Aung Thu was arrested for the first time in March 1988. He was arrested again in 1990 and was sentenced to five years imprisonment, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
Meanwhile another activist, Aung Gyi, was arrested during an overnight operation by soldiers on Friday.
Student leader Htay Kywe arrested
Mizzima News
October 13, 2007 - With the unabated crack down on dissidents continuing, the Burmese military junta today arrested at least four more activists including Htay Kywe, a prominent 88 generation student leader, sources said.
Four activists including Htay Kywe, Mi Mi (alias) Thin Thin Aye, Aung Thu and an unknown fourth person were caught on Saturday by security forces, sources in Rangoon said.
"Yes, we heard that four of them – Ko Htay Kywe, Ma Mi Mi, Ko Aung Thu and another person were arrested today. We don't know the other person's name," a Rangoon resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told Mizzima.
With several telephone phone lines still cut-off, the information could not be independently verified.
However, another Rangoon resident said, "I also heard that four of them were arrested. But I only know the name of Ko Htay Kywe and Ma Mi Mi. I heard that they were arrested on the street while moving to some other place in Rangoon."
Ko Htay Kywe and several other student activists have been in hiding, following the arrest of 13 student leaders including Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi on August 21 night.
The Burmese junta in its mouth-piece New Light of Myanmar said 15 of the prominent 88 generation student leaders have been arrested and indicated that they will be sentenced to long terms in prison for inciting riots and unrest.
The junta on Wednesday arrested two university students – Ye Mya Hein and Aye Myat Myat – sources said.
Authorities reportedly sentenced five students from Mandalay Institute of Medicine including Min Min Oo, who is apprenticing for doctor, to five years in prison with hard labour and were sent to labour camp in Kabbaw valley of Sagaing division.
Besides, authorities in Mandalay continue to hunt down students, who have participated in the recent protest, with the number plates of their motorcycles.
The arrested monks are being kept in various interrogation camps including the notorious insein jail, sources said.
According to the National League for Democracy, Burma's largest opposition party, at least 216 of its members have been arrested so far in the aftermath of the crackdown on the protest led by monks.
Meanwhile, Naw Ohn Hla, who regularly prays on Tuesdays for the release of detained Burmese democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has been issued an order restricting her from moving outside her residential township of Hmawbe .
Burmese Junta Dismisses UN Statement:
Opposition Demands Reform
By The Associated Press/Rangoon October 13, 2007
Burma’s military regime dismissed a UN statement calling for dialogue with the pro-democracy opposition, insisting that it would follow its own roadmap toward reform—a plan critics say is a ruse aimed at extending the government's grip on power.
The main opposition National League for Democracy, however, hailed the UN declaration and urged the ruling generals to comply with demands for negotiations with pro-democracy forces and ethnic minorities, and the release of political prisoners.
State-run TV and radio issued a statement Friday arguing that conditions inside Burma—a reference to the anti-government protests that were violently suppressed by troops on September 26 and 27—were not the concern of the outside world.
“Myanmar's current situation does not affect regional and international stability,” said the statement, attributed to Col Thant Shin. “However, we deeply regret that the UN Security Council has issued a statement contrary to the people's desires.”
“The government of Myanmar will continue to implement the seven-step roadmap together with the people,” the statement said, referring to the junta's plan that promises a new constitution and an eventual transition to democratic rule.
The road map process is supposed to culminate in a general election at an unspecified date in the future. But so far only the first stage—drawing up guidelines for a new constitution—has been completed, and critics say the convention that drafted the guidelines was stage-managed by the military.
Detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD endorsed the Security Council statement.
“Since Myanmar is a member country of the United Nations and as the government has declared it would work with the UN, we earnestly underscore the need to urgently implement the demands made by the Security Council,” the NLD said.
The 15-member Security Council issued its first statement on Burma on Thursday in an attempt to pressure the military rulers—in charge of the isolated country since 1988—to enter a dialogue with the opposition and make moves toward democratic reforms.
Mizzima News
October 13, 2007 - With the unabated crack down on dissidents continuing, the Burmese military junta today arrested at least four more activists including Htay Kywe, a prominent 88 generation student leader, sources said.
Four activists including Htay Kywe, Mi Mi (alias) Thin Thin Aye, Aung Thu and an unknown fourth person were caught on Saturday by security forces, sources in Rangoon said.
"Yes, we heard that four of them – Ko Htay Kywe, Ma Mi Mi, Ko Aung Thu and another person were arrested today. We don't know the other person's name," a Rangoon resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told Mizzima.
With several telephone phone lines still cut-off, the information could not be independently verified.
However, another Rangoon resident said, "I also heard that four of them were arrested. But I only know the name of Ko Htay Kywe and Ma Mi Mi. I heard that they were arrested on the street while moving to some other place in Rangoon."
Ko Htay Kywe and several other student activists have been in hiding, following the arrest of 13 student leaders including Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi on August 21 night.
The Burmese junta in its mouth-piece New Light of Myanmar said 15 of the prominent 88 generation student leaders have been arrested and indicated that they will be sentenced to long terms in prison for inciting riots and unrest.
The junta on Wednesday arrested two university students – Ye Mya Hein and Aye Myat Myat – sources said.
Authorities reportedly sentenced five students from Mandalay Institute of Medicine including Min Min Oo, who is apprenticing for doctor, to five years in prison with hard labour and were sent to labour camp in Kabbaw valley of Sagaing division.
Besides, authorities in Mandalay continue to hunt down students, who have participated in the recent protest, with the number plates of their motorcycles.
The arrested monks are being kept in various interrogation camps including the notorious insein jail, sources said.
According to the National League for Democracy, Burma's largest opposition party, at least 216 of its members have been arrested so far in the aftermath of the crackdown on the protest led by monks.
Meanwhile, Naw Ohn Hla, who regularly prays on Tuesdays for the release of detained Burmese democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has been issued an order restricting her from moving outside her residential township of Hmawbe .
Burmese Junta Dismisses UN Statement:
Opposition Demands Reform
By The Associated Press/Rangoon October 13, 2007
Burma’s military regime dismissed a UN statement calling for dialogue with the pro-democracy opposition, insisting that it would follow its own roadmap toward reform—a plan critics say is a ruse aimed at extending the government's grip on power.
The main opposition National League for Democracy, however, hailed the UN declaration and urged the ruling generals to comply with demands for negotiations with pro-democracy forces and ethnic minorities, and the release of political prisoners.
State-run TV and radio issued a statement Friday arguing that conditions inside Burma—a reference to the anti-government protests that were violently suppressed by troops on September 26 and 27—were not the concern of the outside world.
“Myanmar's current situation does not affect regional and international stability,” said the statement, attributed to Col Thant Shin. “However, we deeply regret that the UN Security Council has issued a statement contrary to the people's desires.”
“The government of Myanmar will continue to implement the seven-step roadmap together with the people,” the statement said, referring to the junta's plan that promises a new constitution and an eventual transition to democratic rule.
The road map process is supposed to culminate in a general election at an unspecified date in the future. But so far only the first stage—drawing up guidelines for a new constitution—has been completed, and critics say the convention that drafted the guidelines was stage-managed by the military.
Detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD endorsed the Security Council statement.
“Since Myanmar is a member country of the United Nations and as the government has declared it would work with the UN, we earnestly underscore the need to urgently implement the demands made by the Security Council,” the NLD said.
The 15-member Security Council issued its first statement on Burma on Thursday in an attempt to pressure the military rulers—in charge of the isolated country since 1988—to enter a dialogue with the opposition and make moves toward democratic reforms.
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