White House Condemns Myanmar Arrests

The White House on Thursday condemned the arrest of dissidents by Myanmar`s military junta.

The White House on Thursday condemned the arrest of dissidents by Myanmar's military junta and said those actions would be a "major topic" at a meeting of political leaders of the Asia-Pacific region.

"We strongly condemn the ongoing actions of the Burmese regime in arresting, harassing and assaulting pro-democracy activists for organizing, for participating in peaceful demonstrations," said Dennis Wilder, senior director for East Asian Affairs at the White House.

The comments came after Myanmar's military junta arrested participants in a rare string of protests, and raided homes of known activists and their friends.

"The Burmese government should release these activists immediately and stop its intimidation of those Burmese who are promoting democracy and human rights, including Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi," Wilder said, using the former name of the Southeast Asian country.

U.S. President George W. Bush will attend the APEC meeting in Australia next week.