Press Release: Terry Evans
30 January
Burma: Leading Pro-Democracy Activists Charged
Several pro-democracy activists have been charged with making illegal statements during last August's fuel price
protests. Amongst those charged are two of Burma's most important pro-democracy leaders, Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi, who
have been under arrest since the early days of the fuel protests.
Following the arrests of Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi, Burma's Buddhist monks took the lead and escalated the protests
against the ruling generals. By the end of September tens of thousands of monks and pro-democracy supporters filled the
streets of Burma's major cities, chanting prayer of peace and loving kindness. Within a few days the brutal junta
responded by unleashing lethal force, killing dozens of monks and detaining thousands more to bring the demonstrations
to an abrupt halt.
It is believed that this group of leading dissidents will be tried in secret at Rangoon's infamous Insein prison, where
they have been held under emergency powers since the the protests. Under the junta's draconian press laws the
pro-democracy activists can expect jail sentences of not less than seven years.
ENDS