88 generation student calls for UN action

Aug 27, 2007 (DVB)—Ko Htay Kywe, the only 88 Generation Students leader to have avoided arrest in the past week, has joined calls from a number of groups for United Nations action on Burma.

Ko Htay Kywe, who is currently in hiding, told DVB on Saturday that it was time for the UN to take action against the military regime over the ongoing arrests of activists in Burma.

“Many of us have already been arrested and it is clear that there is no security or rule of law in Burma. The political and economic hardships in the country are also very clear,” Ko Htay Kywe said.

“We are trying to help the Burmese people liberate themselves from the situation they are in now. We know that the international community is watching the situation here and we would like to extend an invitation to UN special envoy (Ibrahim) Gambari,” he said.

Ibrahim Gambari, the UN secretary general’s special envoy to Burma, is reportedly scheduled to meet Burmese military officials in Naypyidaw in the near future but it is unclear whether his trip will be allowed in light of recent protests.

Ko Htay Kywe’s calls for UN action on Burma were echoed today by several rights groups including the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in Burma and Burma Campaign UK.

“The problems in Burma today are only because of the fuel price hikes but also because of the failure of the economic, administrative and political systems in place and the people of Burma have shown that they want change,” Ko Htay Kywe said.

Reporting by DVB