Oct 19, 2007 (DVB), Government authorities have arrested family members of U Gambira, a monk wanted for his involvement in anti-government demonstrations, and say they will not release them until U Gambira has been detained.

U Gambira, leader of the All-Burma Monks Alliance, the monks' group which organised large-scale protests in the former capital Rangoon and other townships across Burma, has been on the government's most wanted list and but has not yet been located by government security forces.

Ko Aung Kyaw Kyaw, the younger brother of U Gambira and secretary of the National League for Democracy in Pauk township, Magwe division, was arrested in Rangoon on Wednesday by authorities. Another brother of the monk, Ko Win Zaw, a HIV/AIDS patient, was also arrested in their hometown of Pauk recently.

Sources close to the family told DVB that U Gambira’s mother and sister were also arrested by the township police in Meikhtila in Mandalay division, leaving his father and another sister on the run.

The sources also told DVB that the military intelligence officer who arrested U Gambira’s family members apparently told them they would not be released until the monk is detained.

Reporting by Maung Too