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Hundreds of demonstrators had taken to the streets to express their anger at the surprise increase in fuel prices. Natural gas prices have risen 500% and petrol and diesel prices have almost doubled, according to the Guardian. The rise has hit poor labourers particularly hard, swallowing up to half of their daily income. The 88 Generation Students group is an organisation synonymous with the long struggle for democracy in military-ruled Burma and take their name from a 1988 student-led uprising crushed by the military. In a rare announcement in all state-run newspapers, the junta said that the dissidents were arrested for undermining the peace and security of the state, according to The Epoch Times. Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Ko Mya Aye, Ko Pyone Cho, Ko Jimmy and Ko Yin Htun were among those from the 88 Generation Student group arrested. IFEX were told by source in the Home Ministry that they were detained in Kyaikkasan, a stadium turned detention centre. Several of those arrested were also detained at the end of September 2006, accused of plotting to destabilise the country and colluding with communists and exiled political organisations to commit terrorism. On that occasion the former student activists were released after three months in detention. Min Ko Naing, one of Burma’s most prominent dissidents, has already served a 16-year term in Akyab prison, while Ko Ko Gyi was released in March 2005 after nearly 14 years imprisonment. IFEX say that five university students - Kyaw Ko Ko, Nyan Oo, Yar Zar Mon, Nyan Linn and Nyi Linn Oo - were also arrested while putting up a poster demanding reductions in the price of fuel and basic commodities. US President George W Bush has strongly condemned the crackdown in Burma and has called for the release of all political prisoners, according to the Bangkok Post. URGENT
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