Sittwe: Six Arakanese university students, some recently graduated, have been missing since they were arrested by police in Rangoon, the former capital of Burma, said a close associate of the students.

"They were arrested by SP 2 police intelligent force in Rangoon on 1 September, 2009. Since then, they have been missing," he said.

The six students were identified as Ko Tun Lin, Ko Zaw Tun Oo, Ko Kyaw Zaw Oo, Ko Kyaw Win, Ko Khin Maung Htay, and Ko Kyaw San Hlaing. All are around 25 years of age and come from Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State.

"They were brought to an undisclosed location for interrogation by the police after their arrest," the source said.

A relative of one youth from Sittwe confirmed the arrest but refused to provide further details out of fear of punishment by the authorities.

It is suspected that they were arrested in connection with the 70th anniversary of Saradaw Ottama Day on 9 September.

Ottama was a prominent Arakanese monk who sacrificed his life for Burma's independence from British rule, but the Burmese military currently in power has banned observance of the memorial day in Burma.