RECENT ARRESTS
Jan 31st, 2008
RECENT ARRESTS
…
November arrests – 45 total
On 2 November, National League for Democracy (NLD) members Aung Kyaw
Moe and Tin Yu were arrested.
On 4 November, NLD member Zaw Zaw was arrested at a coffee shop in
Yangon’s Kyeemyindaing Township.
On 4 November, U Gambira, head of the newly-formed All-Burma Monks
Alliance and a leader of the protests, was arrested and reportedly
charged with treason, while two of his family members previously
detained as ‘hostages’ in an attempt to force him out of hiding, have
been kept in detention.
On 5 November, U Khaymarwuntha, a 20-year-old monk from Yangon’s
Zantila Kamahtan monastery, was arrested for his involvement in the
September demonstrations.
On 12 November, four women and an elderly man were arrested for
campaigning against the dam project on the Irrawaddy River in Kachin
State. They were freed from a police station two days later.
On 13 November, Su Su Nway, a member of the youth wing of the main
opposition NLD party, was arrested during the visit of the UN Special
Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar to the
country. Fellow youth activist Bo Bo Win Hlaing was arrested along
with her while putting up anti-government posters. On 14 November, at
least three people were arrested in a fruit and vegetable market in
Yangon for passing out anti-government pamphlets.
On 15 November, authorities raided a monastery in Sittwe, located in
western Rakhine State, and arrested monk U Than Rama, wanted for his
involvement in the September protests there. He was reportedly beaten
during the raid and his whereabouts remains unknown.
On 15 November, a monk was beaten and taken into custody when the
Aung Dhamma Pala monastery in Yangon was raided.
On 19 November, Ray Thein (alias Bu Maung), an NLD Secretary in
Rakhine State, was re-arrested after being briefly detained in
September for holding an anti-junta demonstration.
On 20 November, senior NLD member Myint Naing was detained.
On 20 November, politician Soe Win was arrested.
On 20 November, ethnic Arakanese leader U Tin Ohn was detained and
his whereabouts remains unknown. Other ethnic leaders, including
Arakanese Cin Sian Thang and U Aye Thar Aung; Naing Ngwe Thein from
the Mon National Democracy Front; and Kachin political leader U Hkun
Htoo, were rounded up as well on 20 and 21 November but were released
after questioning.
On 24 November, eight members of the Kachin Independence Organization
(KIO) were arrested, likely due to KIO’s refusal to accede to the
government’s demand that they publicly renounce the November
statement by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
On 26 November, Aung Zaw Oo, a member of the Human Rights Defenders
and Promoters group, was arrested while sitting in a teashop in
downtown Yangon, likely on account of his involvement in planning
events for International Human Rights Day on 10 December.
On 26 November, Rakhine State NLD chairman San Shwe Tun was re-
arrested after being released from Akyab prison on 5 November after
serving a three-year jail term.
On 27 November, Win Maw, lead guitarist in the popular Shwe Thansin
band, Myat San, a former long-term political prisoner and a member of
the Tri-Colour Students Group and Aung Aung, a friend of the two men,
were arrested in a Yangon tea shop.
On 27 November, Win Maung, an SPDC village secretary from Rakhine
State, was arrested for his involvement in the September protests.
On 28 November, U Tin Hla, member of the Federation of Trade Unions-
Burma (FTUB) and the Burma Railway Union, was arrested along with his
family for allegedly organising railway workers and encouraging them
to join the rallies in September. His wife and two children were
released after five days.
On 28 November, U Khin Hla, an NLD secretary in Rakhine State, was
arrested. In November, a Burmese rapper was arrested for paying
tribute at a concert to the monks who led September’s demonstrations.
————
December arrests – 29 total
On 2 December, Hajee Amir Hakim, a 52-year-old man from Rakhine
State, was arrested for writing a letter to the BBC detailing SPDC
human rights abuses against Rohingya minority. He was released the
following day after his relatives bribed a police officer.
On 2 December, Aung Zaw Win, a lay person, was arrested while
inquiring about evicted monks.
On 14 December, Khin Moe Aye, Kyaw Soe, Zaw Min, Min Min Soe, Htun
Htun Win and Myo Yan Naung Thein, all former political prisoners and
current members of the 88 Generation Students groups, were arrested
for being linked to the activists who filmed the September protests
and spoke to exiled media. In mid-December, seven activists,
including former political prisoners Aung Aung, Aung Gyi, Myat Hsan
and Win Maw, were arrested for trying to send video footage of the
September demonstrations to international media.
On 17-18 December, five NLD members were arrested in Rakhine State
for organizing poster and graffiti campaigns against the government.
On 18 December, nine members of the Shan State Nationalities
Liberation Organisation, including battalion commander major Bar Pray
(alias Ye Naing), were arrested, reportedly for political reasons.
————-
January arrests – 22 total
On 2 January, former student activists Ko Ko Maung and Ko Min Han was
arrested.
On 2 January, NLD members Dr. Aung Moe Nyo, Htay Myint, Sein Win,
Than Htun, U Ko Oo and Nay Myo Kyaw were arrested in Magwe division,
reportedly to stop them from attending independence day celebrations
in a nearby township.
On 3 January, two NLD youth members were arrested.
On 3 January, a monk and two laymen were arrested in Yangon during a
house raid in search of an activist.
On 4 January, Htet Htet Aung, Ko Kyaw Kyaw and Kyaw Zin Win, all NLD
youth members, were arrested. On 13 January, U Par Lay and U Maung
Soe were arrested.
On 15 January, two NLD youth wing members, Soe Min Oo and Kalar Shae,
were arrested in Rakhine State after shouting slogans such
as ‘Restore Democracy’, ‘Release political prisoners including Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi’, and ‘Reduce Commodity Prices’.
On 15 January, Saw Wai, poet and leader of an organization
established by artists to care for orphans of AIDS victims, was
arrested after authorities deciphered part of his “February 14″ poem
that contained a hidden message criticizing Senior General Than Shwe.
In January, Ko Aung Gyi, former editor of the sports magazine 90
Minutes, was arrested in Yangon.
Richard – www.freesuukyi.org
One Response to “RECENT ARRESTS”
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February 1st, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Dear Editor,
I am the blood brother of Myo Yan Naung Thein who was arrested in 14th December 2007. I am from Burma and currently living in UK. Despite the call for national reconciliation in Burma, military junta defy it by arresting high profile student leaders. Although, junta promised to Mr Ibraham Gambari in his last trip that they will stop arresting dissidents but in reality, arresting intensified.
Military government arrested my blood brother, Myo Yan Naung Thein on14th Dec 2007. He is one of the student leaders with his firm determination in restoration of democracy in Burma. Because of his past political activities that are recorded by military intelligence and his current democratic activities; about 20-30 policemen, soldiers and military intelligences raided Myo Yan Naung Thein’s house and arrested him. After his arrest, we lost contact with him and no one inform us where he is. Our mother, who is nearly 70 years old, is now in the bed and suffering from high blood pressure and heart disease. They threatened to arrest his wife as well.
He is the prominent student leader and due to his leading role in 1996 December Student Demonstrations, he was sentenced to prison for 7 years by military government in 1997. He is the leading members of the 88-generation student and he has been working for democratisation of Burma for very long time. Speaking English, French and Spanish very fluently, he always plays very vital role in struggle for justice in Burma. Because of his talent and his political activities, military government monitor him very closely all the time. He spoke to journalists who posed as tourists and effectively he can manage to evade arrest in the past by working as the tourist guide.
On 28th January 2008, our mother can see him for very first time. Heart-breaking scene appeared when she saw him. As the result of tortured by Special Police and Swan-Ar-Shin (Government-Sponsor-Militias) during the detention, he cannot move the whole of his left-hand side body totally and cannot walk as well. After the arrest, once healthy and fit person turn into the one who cannot walk by himself. In addition, the junta charged him under Emergency Act 5(j), which can sentence to prison at least 7 years, also known as Political Act, and they will trial him at the Pa-Be-Tan court next week. We are very seriously worrying about his worsen health condition and his safety. We are very deeply worrying that he will face unfair trial. He had done nothing wrong and he is a prisoner of conscience.
Time is life and death in Burma. No law in Burma and law are what the generals said and what they want to do. I would like to call for international community that please do not dessert us. We need your support and take action on Burma now. Without your support, political prisoners are facing very grave danger at the hands of brutal military regime. Please show your concern and ask military government to respect the human rights and demand to release all political prisoners including Myo Yan Naung Thein whose health is deteriorating.
Thank you very much.
Yours truly,
Myo Htike Tan Thein @ Myo Thein
Blood brother of Myo Yan Naung Thein
00-44-78 7788 2386
00-44-20 8493 9137
mhttoo@yahoo.co.uk
9mhttoo@gmail.com