Activists in Burma arrested after roundup

October 13, 2007

Thailand - The last remaining leaders of the recent pro-democracy protests were rounded up and arrested by Burma's military rulers.

Among those arrested was Htay Kywe, who led some of the first marches and was a prominent activist in a 1988 uprising.

The arrests came as thousands attended a pro-government rally in Rangoon, many of them forced to march under orders after being threatened with steep fines if they did not,.

UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who met junta leaders earlier this month, is preparing for another visit to Burma.

Following the latest arrests, few, if any, leaders of the 1988 generation of former student activists are thought to remain at large.

Other leaders detained overnight included Thin Thin Aye, also known as Mie Mie, according to rights group Amnesty.

"We are extremely concerned for the well-being of these people given their prominence, and we do fear that they risk torture and ill treatment," Amnesty said in a statement.

Burmese activists and dissidents say several thousand people have been taken into detention since troops and armed police cracked down on the protests at the end of September.

The government says 10 people were killed in the crackdown, though opposition groups say the toll was many times higher.