Myanmar activists face legal action over fuel hike protest

YANGON, Aug 25, Myanmar's junta was interrogating 13 activists arrested for organising a rally against the regime over its massive hike in fuel prices ahead of likely legal action, state media said Saturday.

Since first taking to the streets last Sunday, a series of peaceful protests over the fuel hikes have been held in Yangon but the military has quickly clamped down on dissent by hauling off demonstrators.

"The 13 persons including Min Ko Naing are being interrogated and action will be taken against them in accordance with the law," said the state-run New Light of Myanmar daily. The junta has detained more than 50 protesters over the past week, it said. Min Ko Naing is considered Myanmar's most prominent pro-democracy leader after detained opposition leader and Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

The paper accused the 13 protesters of "agitating to undermine stability and security of the state" in the first official word on the fate of the detained activists.

Myanmar, under military rule since 1962, tolerates little public opposition. The 13 activists were arrested Tuesday for leading a peaceful march Sunday through Yangon, which drew 500 protesters in the biggest anti-government rally here in at least nine years.