Three Burmese Opposition Activists Detained in Protest

VOA News Washington 03 September 2007

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Demonstrators march on Insein road in northern Rangoon suburb to protest over massive fuel price hikes, 22 Aug 2007

Burma's political opposition says authorities have stopped a peaceful protest march against skyrocketing fuel costs and detained three of the rally's organizers.

Witnesses say the three activists were taken into custody today Sunday just minutes into a planned 250-kilometer march from the rural town of Labutta, east to Rangoon.

One of those detained, Aung Moe Win, had announced plans for the march on US-funded Radio Free Asia.

Burma's opposition says authorities have detained more than 100 pro-democracy activists in a crackdown on recent protests. The government puts the figure at around 50.

Sunday's non-violent march is the latest in a series of rare public demonstrations in military-ruled Burma over the last two weeks.