 Opposition groups condemn 'civilian' arrests
May 17, 2007 (DVB)—The National League for Democracy and the 88 Generation Students group both released statements today condemning the arrests this week of more than 40 activists.
In several separate incidences, the activists, who were participating in peaceful prayer campaigns for the release of detained NLD leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, were grabbed and detained by unidentified groups of assailants.
The state-run New Light of Myanmar today said the arrests were made by "Peace-loving people" preventing "instigators from trying to cause instability and unrest." The 88 Generation Students today described the arrests as highly manipulative.
"It is unacceptable . . . to the Burmese people to have self-titled 'civilians' cracking down on activists," the group said in a statement.
"No civilian thinks of harassing people who are peacefully praying. We call for an end to this abuse of the title 'civilian' and urge the authorities to take the necessary action regarding this matter."
The NLD went further, blaming the arrests on a military-backed people's militia called Pyithu Swan Arr Shin that the opposition says is a small group of government sycophants.
The party said that the arrests of the activists were unlawful and called for all the detained to be released immediately.
"[Pyithu Swan Arr Shin] are not of any of the government's law-enforcement organisations such as Police Forces or the Military Intelligence, who have authority to arrest civilians . . . they are obviously breaking the law of the nation," the NLD statement said.
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