More than 20 Burmese student leaders have been arrested across the country, in the largest crackdown on dissent since the introduction of reforms last year, pro-democracy activists say.
They were detained ahead of a commemoration of the suppression of a student movement 50 years ago.
About 300 people met in Rangoon to mark the event despite the detentions and the presence of plain-clothes police.
Correspondents say what happens may indicate how deep recent reforms are.
The BBC's Jonah Fisher in neighbouring Thailand says anything other than a speedy release will raise serious questions about President Thein Sein's ability to transform what was until recently one of the world's most repressive states.
Hundreds of political prisoners have been released in the last year as part of the reforms.
Activists said the detentions were made in several different locations across the country, including five in Rangoon.
Activist Ko Ko Gyi said some of the detainees had been released months ago under an amnesty for political prisoners.
They include Phyo Phyo Aung, head of the All Burma Students Union.
"Even when the president has repeatedly said his government is making real reforms, it is very disappointing that there are some in the government who still cannot abandon their old habits," he said, quoted by the Associated Press.
7 July is the 50th anniversary of the Burmese military's brutal suppression of student demonstrations, just four months after a coup by Gen Ne Win which began almost five decades of repressive rule.
Dozens were killed - and the following day the student union building at Rangoon University was dynamited.
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