AP-Myanmar Exiles Said To Be Abduct

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Subject: AP-Myanmar Exiles Said To Be Abducted

Tuesday June 15 8:26 AM ET

Myanmar Exiles Said To Be Abducted
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Myanmar News

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - The Myanmar military has abducted two Myanmar
students living in exile in China, a group of exiles reported today.

The All Burma Democratic Students Front said the military intelligence
arrested the students June 10 while meeting supporters of Myanmar's
pro-democracy movement near the town of Rulli in southern China.

The government of Myanmar issued a statement saying that it was too early to
comment on the claim but that an arrest would be unsurprising ``since they
are a threat to national security.''

Myanmar, which has been ruled by the military since 1962, is also known as
Burma.

Those arrested were Moe Kyaw and Than Zaw, senior leaders of the
organization, the group said. The two were taken to Military Intelligence
Unit 23 headquarters in Kutkai, in Myanmar's northern Shan state.

``The abduction is a clear violation of Chinese sovereignty. The Burmese
regime has no respect for international law or for borders, and so we are
very worried about activists along the border,'' the students said.

Myanmar's government spokesman did not immediately respond to the
allegation.

Several pro-democracy groups have presences in China, Thailand and India
near their borders with Myanmar. Thai army officials have accused Myanmar
troops of crossing onto Thai soil to attack dissidents and refugee camps.

China is Myanmar's strongest ally, providing the relatively isolated country
with economic and military aid.