Burmese junta arrests dozens more activists

Burma’s military junta has arrested a dozen activists and Buddhist monks this month, despite assurances that it has halted its crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, a human rights watchdog said today.

Amnesty International said the arrests had been made as recently as Monday, when activist Aung Zaw Oo was detained in Rangoon. He was believed to have been taken into custody for planning events for International Human Rights Day on December 10, it said.

“Arbitrary arrests continue unabated as part of the Burma government’s systematic suppression of freedom of expression and association,” a spokeswoman said.

Burma’s military junta crushed pro-democracy protests in September, killing at least 15 people and detaining nearly 3,000 protesters.

The junta has said all but 90 people were freed, but Amnesty International said 700 remain behind bars.

Among other arrests this month was the detention of Myint Naing, a senior member of the opposition National League for Democracy party, the group said.

On November 15, authorities raided a monastery in the western state of Rakhine and arrested U Than Rama, a Buddhist monk wanted for involvement in the September demonstrations, which were led by monks.

Five ethnic leaders from the Arakenese, Mon and Kachin minorities also were detained last week, Amnesty International said. Three have been released, it said.