Dec 30, 2008 (DVB), Nine National League for Democracy youth members were arrested at around 3pm today as they took part in a peaceful march following a talk at the party headquarters in Rangoon.

The activists carried placards bearing the words "Free Aung San Suu Kyi" and photographs of the detained NLD leader and were walking towards the Myenigone area when they were arrested in front of the old parliament building, an eyewitness said.

"At Pyay road, a group of unknown people shouted, 'Arrest them, arrest them' and a police car arrived and they beat the youths up and dragged them into the car," the witness said.

"It was quite horrific. It was quite worrying for them as the police were armed with sticks and were reacting very angrily."

The witness said Sanchaung NLD members Tun Tun Win, Tun Lin and Pyit Pyit, Aung Phyo Wai, Kaung Htet Hlaing and Thet Maung Tun were arrested.

Htet Htet Oo Wai from Shwepyithar, Win Myint Aung from Kayan and Min Thein from Thaketa were also detained.

"I don’t know where they were taken," the witness said."It caused a bit of panic among the people although the area was not crowded," he said.

"[The youths] were not shouting anything. They were just wearing white jasmine flowers on their jackets."

A youth activist told DVB last week that a group of young people was planning a jasmine campaign which would run from 30 December for two weeks.

He said the purpose of the campaign was to show support for political prisoners and to make a stand against the military regime.

Reporting by Naw Say Phaw