The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) is deeply concerned about the fate of three former student leaders who were taken into custody by the military junta on 26 September. 
 
The three leaders -- Min Ko Naing, Ko Htay Kywe, and Ko Ko Gyi -- had  spent many years in prison for their democratic activism in 1988 and had regained their freedom as recently as  two years ago. They are well respected for their peaceful, nonviolent approaches in advocating national reconciliation in Burma and have on many different occasions urged the Burmese generals to reconcile with the democracy movement led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and rebuild the country through unity.
 
The detentions come at a time when the National League for Democracy is preparing to celebrate its 18th founding anniversary on 27 September.  In a way, the Burmese generals are once again resorting to intimidation and human rights abuse as a gesture of threat against the democracy movement led by the NLD and also trying to silence the voices of reason before the reconvening of their sham national convention in October aimed at legitimizing military rule.
 
The NCGUB strongly urges the Burmese generals to immediately release all political detainees, including these popular student leaders and to heed their advice for national reconciliation in Burma .
 
We also appeal to the international community to do everything in its power to stop the Burmese generals from further committing injustices against the people of Burma , particularly the democratic parties and activists.