Press Release: Terry Evans

19 October

Swiss based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that it is "deeply worried" about the fate of those arrested in Burma. The ICRC said that it was trying to gain access to thousands of civilians who are currently in detention after the brutal crackdown, but to date the junta has not yet agreed to talks.

In an interview posted on its website, Pierre Krähenbühl, the organisation's director of operations, said efforts would continue to restore a "meaningful" dialogue with the military concerning the current situation.

At least a dozen people have been officially reported killed and many thousands arrested during last month's suppression of pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks and '88 Generation Students in Burma.

Burmese Military Intelligence units are continuing night time raids on the homes of suspected activists.

"The ICRC is deeply worried about the fate of thousands of people who have reportedly been arrested in connection with the recent events in Myanmar," Krähenbühl said in comments dated October 15.

The Geneva-based agency wants access to the recently detained people to "assess their conditions of treatment and detention" and to help them contact loved ones.

Krähenbühl said dozens of worried families had contacted the ICRC for help locating relatives that have been reportedly detained or are missing.

He said that the organisation's efforts to talk to the government had so far not borne any fruit. "We regret that our efforts have not yet produced any tangible results but we remain determined to pursue them," said Krähenbühl.

ENDS

© Scoop Media