Amnesty International Malaysia is deeply concerned about reports emerging from Burma of continuing violence and mass arrests. On Wednesday, Oct 3, reports say the military issued public warnings that more arrests were to be expected. Military trucks with mounted loudspeakers patrolled the city blaring: "We have photos. We are going to make arrests!"

Amidst such threats and the maintained military presence, an atmosphere of fear prevails. At the same time, some people caught up in last week's arrests have been reportedly released, including journalists, monks and nuns.

The flood of reports in the city of alleged brutal killings, disappearances and arrests is causing major concern for the people of Burma and those watching the continuing crisis.

AI (Amnesty International) believes that at least 1,000 people have been arrested in Rangoon alone, the majority of them monks. Arrests are also reported from towns and cities across the country. This is in addition to at least 150 other persons arrested in August at the onset of the protests.

This violence continues despite the UN Human Rights Council's resolution on Tuesday strongly deploring the violent repression of peaceful demonstrations in Burma. The resolution, which was supported by all 47 members of the council, urges Burma to ensure full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The council called on Burma to release without delay all political detainees and those arrested or detained as part of the recent repression. It urged the government to ensure full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access throughout the country.

For Malaysians, this development is particularly pertinent since Malaysia sits on the UN Human Rights Council. Malaysia 's response is also especially crucial as a member of Asean.

This is why AI also calls on Asean leaders to put pressure on the Burma authorities to resolve the current crisis without resorting to violence. It is also timely for the Asean foreign ministers to discuss, among other issues, the draft of an Asean Human Rights Charter enshrining common standards of behaviour for all member states.

In our calls to both the UN and Asean, AI maintains that detainees should not be held in secret places of detention, and must be granted access to independent lawyers, medical personnel and to family members. Those detained for participation in peaceful assemblies must be released immediately, including at least 150 persons arrested in August at an early stage of the current crisis.

We have also called on the United Nations Security Council to immediately impose a comprehensive and mandatory arms embargo on Burma.

AI secretary-general Irene Khan stresses that "an unambiguous message must be sent urgently to Burma military leaders that their brutal crackdown on peaceful protestors will not be tolerated or fueled by any member of the international community."

To demonstrate this, AI, in partnership with other organisations worldwide, has called for a second day of global demonstrations at 12 noon on Saturday, Oct 6, to call for an end to attacks on protestors in Burma, the immediate release of those detained for participation in peaceful assemblies, as well as all prisoners of conscience, and for the UN to take action now.

At the domestic level, Amnesty International Malaysia, in solidarity with other civil society organisations namely Suara Rakyat Malaysia, the Civil Rights Committee of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Youth For Change, and the Burmese community in Malaysia will be participating in a candlelight vigil at KLCC today (Friday) at 8pm.

If you would like to show your support, please feel welcome to join us. Wear red (in solidarity with the monks who have been shot), bring a candle or lantern and your best intentions for the people of Burma. For more details, please contact Suaram (Moon Hui) at 03-77843525 or Amnesty International (K Shan) at 03-79552680.

The writer is executive director, Amnesty International Malaysia.