Prominent Monk, Labor Leader Arrested In New Myanmar Crackdown

November 13, 2007 4:50 p.m. EST

Yangon, Myanmar (AHN) - A prominent Buddhist monk and an outspoken labor leader were arrested by authorities as United Nations human rights investigator Paulo Sergio Pinheiro was on the third day of a five-day mission to investigate human rights conditions in Myanmar.

The Thailand-based dissident group National League for Democracy-Liberated Area confirmed the arrest of U Gambira, a Buddhist monk who helped spearhead pro-democracy demonstrations in Yangon that were put down by the junta in September.

The group said Su Su Nway, 35, a prominent female activist who has been on the run for more than two months, was arrested Tuesday morning in Yangon as she was trying to place a leaflet on a building near a hotel where Pinheiro was staying.

In an e-mail to The Associated Press, Bo Kyi, head of the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, appealed to Pinheiro to meet with U Gambira before he leaves on Thursday. "I am very worried about U Gambira, I fear he will be tortured," he said.

U Gambira, who headed the All-Burma Monks pro-democracy alliance, was active in promoting his cause abroad using a satellite phone.

Su Su Nway, who served nine months in prison in 2005-2006 for her labor activism, is a member of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party.