NLD Members Living With Rats In Mandalay Prison

December 26, 2007
Original report by Nan Kum Tayauk, DVB

Members of National League for Democracy (NLD) party, Mandalay, were allowed a family visit for the first time since their arrest 3 months ago but to the shock and horror of the visiting families, the prisoners are living in conditions so bad that they had to share their food with rats, which infested their cells day and night.

U Than Lwin, a leading member of Mandalay NLD party and the Member of Parliament from Mattaya township and his colleague Daw Win Mya Mya, NLD party member have been detained in O Bo prison, Mandalay since the September Golden Colour Revolution.

When being allowed for the first time in 3 months, the visiting family members' happiness, hopes and relief, soon turned into horror and sadness when they witnessed the dreadful conditions in which the prisoners have been living.

During the 20 minutes visiting time, Daw Win Mya Mya's brother saw that his sister, just as in her previous imprisonment, was looking thin and weak. She had to struggle to keep the meeting time as she had bad stomach and needed the toilet much of the time. Her spirit, however, was is as strong as ever which gave U Ba Soe, her brother, much comfort.

Ma Khin Mar Lwin, the daughter of MP U Than Lwin, encountered a different problem when she learned that her father, who had been beaten badly, could not eat. One of his eye sockets was now lower and the eye was weeping continuously. He told his daughter his eye was giving him much pain. When asked for treatment for the damaged eye, the authorities said they would arrange it; this undertaking has so far not been fulfilled.

Six other NLD members, who have been detained in O Bo prison were also allowed a family visit on the same day. Nobody knows why they have been arrested and detained and family members were asking for their immediate release, since they did not commit any crime.

For original report, please click here.