Straits Times
YANGON - Fourteen people were arrested after a pro-junta militia broke up a protest calling for the release of Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a security official said on Friday.
Dozens of Ms Aung San Suu Kyi's supporters staged a small protest on Thursday to mark her 63rd birthday, which she spent alone and under house arrest.
A pro-junta militia broke up the small rally outside the headquarters of Ms Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party, beating some of the protesters, witnesses said.
Fourteen people - including a Buddhist monk - were arrested, according to a Myanmar security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to reporters.
Party spokesman Nyan Win, who was not at the protest, said he could only confirm four arrests. He had no details about the condition of the detainees.
The protesters had gathered early on Thursday to mark the Nobel Peace Prize winner's birthday by making religious offerings to Buddhist monks and nuns.
Later, a small group on the pavement began shouting for Ms Aung San Suu Kyi's freedom, but the militia broke up the protest within minutes.
The opposition leader has spent more than 12 years confined to her rambling lakeside home, where she is allowed no contact with the outside world.
The military regime has long ignored international demands for her freedom, which were renewed on Thursday by Britain, France and the United States. -- AFP
No comments:
Post a Comment