Police Officials Ridicule Mother Trying To Help Young Detainee

22 January 2008
Original report by Ye May Aung, DVB

(Please see the previous post for full report)

Ko Aung Zaw Oo, a Taunggyi NLD Youth member, who was unable to contact his mother, asked Daw Hla Hla Win, the mother of his fellow detainee for help but authorities tried prevented this. Only after the application was formally made by the lawyer, was he allowed to write to the address of his mother.

"The mother and son were travelling on business when Aung Zaw Oo was arrested at the check point in Manday, During the arrest, his mother fainted and was left behind".

"When I went to see my son in jail, Aung Zaw Oo asked me to help contact his parents. I asked him to write down the address but it was confiscated. When I asked for that piece of paper, the juntas prison staff were not only abusive but also made fun of the whole matter. Each official I approached said he didn't have it and pointed to someone else. It took a while to chase them around, just for a piece of paper to help the boy,"

"In the end, when the prosecution lawyer went to see them, Aung Zaw Oo managed to give him another written address of his parents and they have now been contacted."