88 student leader narrowly escapes raid

Aug 28, 2007 (DVB)—Wanted 88 Generation Student leader U Htay Kywe narrowly avoided arrest last night when the Rangoon house he was hiding in was raided by government officials.

“U Htay Kywe’s safe house was raided last night but he escaped,” 88 Generation Students member Hla Myo Naung told DVB.

Despite giving interviews to a number of media groups in the past few days, U Htay Kywe has consistently refused to identify his location in Rangoon for fear he would be found by the authorities.

Several press groups ran stories yesterday claiming that U Htay Kywe had fled to the Thai-Burma border but Hla Myo Naung told DVB this morning that the reports were incorrect.

“We have heard about these reports and the information is wrong. All members of the 88 Generation Students group have made it clear they will not flee the country,” Hla Myo Naung said.

“Some of our remaining members had a phone conversation with U Htay Kywe just moments ago and he has not fled,” Hla Myo Naung said.

U Htay Kywe is the only remaining high-level leader of the 88 Generation Students group to have avoided arrest in the past week.

Reporting by Aye Naing