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Burma protest leader is arrested | Burma protest leader is arrested |
(20 minutes later) | |
One of the leaders of fuel price protests in Burma has been arrested by the military junta following a manhunt across the country's Yangon region. | |
Htin Kyaw, 44, who has been detained three times this year for protesting over living standards, was beaten as he was seized on Saturday, witnesses said. | Htin Kyaw, 44, who has been detained three times this year for protesting over living standards, was beaten as he was seized on Saturday, witnesses said. |
Mr Kyaw had apparently been planning another protest before his arrest. | Mr Kyaw had apparently been planning another protest before his arrest. |
Two rare protests were held in Burma's capital Rangoon last week. Sunday's rally was the biggest in a decade. | Two rare protests were held in Burma's capital Rangoon last week. Sunday's rally was the biggest in a decade. |
The authorities in Burma have been rigorously checking cars, buses and transport terminals to find those they held responsible for the demonstrations. | The authorities in Burma have been rigorously checking cars, buses and transport terminals to find those they held responsible for the demonstrations. |
Another man was arrested with Mr Kyaw and both shouted anti-government slogans as they were arrested. | Another man was arrested with Mr Kyaw and both shouted anti-government slogans as they were arrested. |
Open trials | Open trials |
Other activists who were arrested earlier this week face up to 20 years in jail, official papers revealed. Some of them are among the country's most prominent dissidents. | Other activists who were arrested earlier this week face up to 20 years in jail, official papers revealed. Some of them are among the country's most prominent dissidents. |
Many of these leading campaigners are members of the pro-democracy 88 Generation Students group which was at the forefront of a failed uprising in 1988. | Many of these leading campaigners are members of the pro-democracy 88 Generation Students group which was at the forefront of a failed uprising in 1988. |
Nyan Win, spokesman for the National League for Democracy (NLD), said: "They have made the strongest possible allegations against these activists. | Nyan Win, spokesman for the National League for Democracy (NLD), said: "They have made the strongest possible allegations against these activists. |
"Their trials must be open. These activists should be heard in open court." | "Their trials must be open. These activists should be heard in open court." |
Last week's fuel price rises left many people struggling to find the money to travel to work. | Last week's fuel price rises left many people struggling to find the money to travel to work. |
Other arrested activists include Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi - some of Burma's most well-known dissidents after Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. | Other arrested activists include Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi - some of Burma's most well-known dissidents after Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. |
The NLD's leader, 62-year-old Ms Suu Kyi, has spent most of the past 17 years under house arrest. | The NLD's leader, 62-year-old Ms Suu Kyi, has spent most of the past 17 years under house arrest. |
The NLD won landmark elections in 1990 but the junta never recognised the result. | The NLD won landmark elections in 1990 but the junta never recognised the result. |
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