NLD leader arrested after Bogalay protest

Sep 05, 2007 (DVB)—Bogalay National League for Democracy chairman U Aung Khin Bo was arrested this morning after staging a protest against high fuel and commodity prices with 14 other party members.

The protest, led by U Aung Khin Bo and party members U Khin Maung Chit, Daw Mi Mi Sein and Daw Khin Lay, started at about 8:30am when the group started marching through the town waving placards, according to eyewitnesses.

But soon after the protest started U Aung Khin Bo was arrested by government officials outside a teashop. The remaining NLD members responded by giving speeches about the plight of political prisoners in Burma to crowds of onlookers.

“There were between 800 and 1000 civilians watching . . . they started giving speeches too and they handed out water and snacks to the NLD members,” one onlooker said on condition of anonymity.

After an hour, the authorities reportedly returned with Union Solidarity and Development Association and Swan Arr Shin members and ordered U Khin Maung Chit to accompany them to the township peace and development council office.

“But he refused and there were so many people that they were able to just shoo the authorities away,” the eyewitness said.

“People started to put themselves between the NLD members and the authorities to prevent them from being arrested.”

Reporting by Naw Say Phaw and Aye Naing