It is shocking that these people could be arrested simply for planning to attend a meeting, Amnesty International said today. This is yet another example of the authorities continuing attempt to silence any opposition in the country. According to reports, those arrested are members of parliament-elect who won seats in the 1990 general election. However it seems that the wives of two MPs were arrested in their stead, as the MPs were not at home at the time. Some of the MPs are reportedly held under house arrest and some have been taken in for interrogation.
Reports indicate that arrests are likely to continue over the next few days.
Amnesty International fears that the MPs could be facing torture and ill-treatment in custody. The organization is seeking assurances that they are given proper access to family, lawyers of their own choice and medical personnel. Attacks against the NLD in the government-controlled press have increased markedly. The NLD had planned a meeting of elected representatives at Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's home to mark the sixth anniversary of its victory in the elections. According the most recent NLD statement, the meeting is still going ahead.