USCB press release (New York, August 23, 2007)
...Two days ago, at least 20 key human rights activists - including Min Ko Naing, Burma's second most
prominent leader after Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi - were arrested as
demonstrators took to the streets to protest a quintupling of fuel prices in the country. The move to
increase the prices has sparked widespread anger in Burma, as Burma's exports of fuel has
skyrocketed and brought the military regime windfall
profits.
Nevertheless, demonstrations continued for a third day through Burma, despite attempts by the
regime to suppress the protest. Sources indicate that military vehicles and personal are being
stationed out of sight in government compounds and houses around the city, enabling the regime to
reach all parts of Rangoon within minutes.
Thousands of police and members of the regime's civilian militia Union Solidarity and Development
Association - the same organization that attempted to assassinate Aung San Suu Kyi in 2003 while
beating to death 100 of her supporters - are deployed throughout Burma's cities where they continue
violent attacks on protestors. Dozens of demonstrators have been beaten and dragged into trucks
today, in which they are whisked away to detentions centers infamous for torture...
The moves inside Burma have garnered world media attention, with at least 500 news articles in the
past 48 hours alone including in the New York Times, Washington Post, Financial Times, and
newspapers throughout Southeast Asia... To read the full article click here....