NLD Youth Members Interrogated & Tortured

22 January 2008
Original report by Ye May Aung, DVB

Four young members of National League for Democracy, Daw Pone, who were arrested earlier this month, and 4 others from a different area, appeared before Kyauk Tada magistrate court, where they were remanded in custody, in Insein Prison, it is reported.

The eight youth members are Ko Kyaw Kyaw Lin, Ko Kyaw Zin Win, Ko Nayzar Myo Win and Ko Han Soe, all from Daw Pone and Zarni Ye Thwe from Mingalar Taung Nyunt, Miss Htet Htet Aung from South Dagon, Miss Kyi Kyi Waa from Tavoy (Dawe') and Ko Aung Zaw Oo from Taunggyi.

Appearing before court however, meant that the young peoples family members, had a chance to see them for the first time since their arrests, nearly 3 weeks ago.

Although they appeared before the court, no hearing of the case was held. They were all remanded instead in Insein Prison, explained Daw Hla Hla Win, Ko Nayzar Myo Win's mother. Ko Kyaw Kyaw Lin, Ko Kyaw Zin Win and Ma Htet Htet Aung were accused for forming an illegal organisation and also facing other charges under immigration laws.

It is reported that Ko Nayzar Myo Win was very poorly during his detention in Kyauk Tada police station when Ko Aung Zaw Oo, Ko Kyaw Kyaw Lin and Ko Kyaw Zin Win all went through interrogation sessions, where they were neither allowed to sleep nor given food to eat.

"We heard Nayzar Myo Win was seriously ill so we went to see him. The police officials told us to get a doctor so we had to consult a GP called Dr Yin Yin Soe, who works at Seven Start Store clinic in Bar Street to treat him. He needed some injections. Aung Zaw Oo went through 8 days without being offered any food and for 4 days, wasn't allowed to sleep. Kyaw Kyaw Lin and Kyaw Zin were offered no food for 4 days."

Ko Aung Zaw Oo, who is a Taunggyi NLD Youth member, who couldn't get in touch with his mother, asked Daw Hla Hla Win for help but authorities tried to prevent 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 at 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 went to see officials for that piece of paper, they were not only abusive but also making fun of the matter. Every official I approached said they 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."

Daw Hla Hla Win continued to voice her concerns and worries that all mothers feel for their offspring as the youngsters, including 2 girls, were charged and detained in Insein prison.

"I just cannot express how I feel. I am not the only mother. Everywhere I look, there is a distraught mother. We all saw our children for the first time in 14 or 15 days, and we were all heart-broken. Arrest was not necessary in the first instance and such heavy and serious charges are neither suitable nor nor appropriate."