Oct 11, 2007 (DVB), Well-known actor Kyaw Thu, who gave his support to protesting monks in last month’s demonstrations in Rangoon, was arrested by Burmese authorities yesterday along with his wife, according to movie industry sources.

Kyaw Thu, an academy award winning movie star as well as a founder and vice-president of the Free Funeral Services Society, offered food and moral support to monks at Shwe Dagon pagoda during protests on 24 and 25 of September, along with comedian Zaganar and veteran politician Amyotharyay Win Naing.

Zaganar and U Win Naing, were arrested by authorities on the evening of 25 September, but Kyaw Thu and his wife managed to evade arrest by fleeing their house just before the government officials raided it.

The couple had been hiding in an unknown location in Rangoon up until their arrest yesterday.

Kyaw Thu spoke to demonstrators at Shwe Dagon on 25 September, the day before the junta started the crackdown on protests, and told them there was no need to be afraid as they were following the teachings of Buddha by protesting in a peaceful way.

"For us Buddhists, the moral is the most important thing. We have to follow what Buddha taught us. . . This is no time for us to be afraid," he said.

It is still unclear where Kyaw Thu and his wife have been detained since their arrest.

Reporting by Moe Aye