Chiang Mai – A high pitched demand has been tabled by the Rakhine State, Tungup Township National League for Democracy (NLD) that the military junta release all political prisoners before the fist anniversary of the Saffron Revolution. The demand was made on August 23.

A statement issued by the township NLD demanded that the military regime (SPDC) immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners including student leaders, who were unlawfully arrested and detained, before September 24, which marks the first anniversary of the Saffron Revolution.

"If the SPDC does not comply with our demand we shall continue our struggle in every way possible. First we will make demands peacefully and then we will do what we have to do," Tungup NLD Organizing Committee member Ko Balagyi told Mizzima.

But he declined to give further details of the actions contemplated if the regime refuses to comply.

The local authorities arrested 48 youths who staged demonstrations on August 8 to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1988 popular uprising. They released 43 persons at about 9 p.m. the same day while the remaining five are still under detention.

After which the authorities charged the protesters with unlawful assembly and inducing crime against public tranquility and sentenced them to two and-a-half years in prison. The statement was issued by the NLD after the sentence was passed.

Plain clothes security personnel are deployed at teashops in Tungup. Military units are stationed near Lawkanandar pagoda, Phayagyi, U Ottama Park and many other monasteries in State capital, Sittwe, Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) Joint-Secretary Thein Hlaing said.

"Security has been beefed up here. I think they have deployed the security forces in apprehension of the first anniversary of the September movement led by monks," he said.