AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

PRESS RELEASE

News Flash

AI Index: ASA 16/029/2007 (Public)

News Service No: 197

13 October 2007

Myanmar: Arrests continue amid grave fears for safety of detainees

Four people have been detained overnight in Yangon as part of a continuing crackdown by the military authorities.

The four detainees include prominent activists Htay Kywe (39), Mie Mie (F, 35 also known as Thin Thin Aye), and Aung Thu (43) who are members of the 1988 Generation Students group. All have been imprisoned previously for their peaceful activism for human rights and democracy.

Amnesty International is seriously concerned for the safety or Htay Kywe, Mie Mie and Aung Thu, who are at grave risk of torture and ill-treatment.

Continued arrests fly in the face of the promises made this week by the Myanmar authorities to cooperate with the United Nations. On Thursday the UN Security Council strongly deplored the violent crackdown and called for the early release of all political prisoners. Instead, arrests continue amid grave fears for the safety of those detained, including torture and ill-treatment.

The international community must insist on concrete action from the Myanmar authorities - for an end to the arrests of peaceful protestors, for guarantees for the safety of all detained, including access to the detainees by independent observers, and for the immediate release of all prisoners of conscience.

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