A group that supports Burmese political prisoners says the recent arrests of 17 people involved in human rights demonstrations were unlawful.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, Burma issued a statement saying the 17 activists were arrested in the first week of May.
The group says some of the activists were arrested because they held a demonstration asking Burma's military junta to provide people with 24 hours of electricity and lower commodity prices.
The group says other people were detained because they attended a workshop about workers' rights. Two other activitists were accused of failing to report to local authorities that they were staying at someone's home.
The political prisoners' support group is urging the international community to continue economic sanctions against Burma's military government until it stops violating human rights.
