Burmese Authorities Circulate Names of Wanted Activists

VOA News Washington 30 August 2007

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Demonstrators during protest against massive fuel price hikes in Rangoon, 22 Aug 2007

Burmese authorities are distributing the names and photographs of activists wanted by police for their participation in a rare string of anti-government protests.

The military-run government has ordered local officials and the public to be on the look-out for the activists. Many of the protesters have gone into hiding.

The opposition National League for Democracy says authorities detained more than 100 people last week, following a series of demonstrations against a steep increase in fuel prices.

Most of the protests took place in Rangoon, but the unrest spread to other parts of the country, highlighting the widespread frustration with rising prices in the impoverished country.

Plainclothes police officers and pro-military gangs have been patrolling cities to prevent further protests.