NEWS - Myanmar Exiled Students Begi

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Subject: NEWS - Myanmar Exiled Students Begin Hunger Strike in Thailand

Myanmar Exiled Students Begin Hunger Strike in Thailand

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Nine exiled students began a hunger strike
Tuesday in front of the Myanmar Embassy in the Thai capital, demanding
the release of political prisoners held by the Yangon military regime. 

Sitting in front of the diplomatic compound in central Bangkok, the
students each held feathers from a peacock -- the symbol of democracy
and student campaigners in Myanmar, also known as Burma. 

"The military regime has systematically oppressed the people's struggle,
and arbitrarily arrested more than 500 activists this month, including
many of our members," a statement from the All Burma Basic Education
Students' Union said. 

Their protest also supported the so-called 9-9-99 campaign for
disobedience inside the military state, which failed when authorities
tightened security and threatened to "annihilate" agitators. 

Myanmar authorities acknowledged arresting about 40 people in the run-up
to Sept. 9, while diplomats estimated 100 were arrested. 

Myanmar students exiled in Thailand have been demonstrating in front of
the embassy in Bangkok since the start of the month. It was unclear how
long they planned to continue their hunger strike.