NLD LEADER DIES IN DETENTION

[lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Media Release
Date: March 9, 1998


                                    
           NLD LEADER DIES IN DETENTION, WHILE OTHER MEMBERS 
                         GET HARSH PRISON TERMS


U Thein Tin, a prominent member of the Rangoon Township
Organizing Committee of the National League for Democracy (NLD),
died at Rangoon General Hospital on the evening of February 18,
1998, following physical and mental torture in Insein Prison,
according to sources in Rangoon.

The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) claims U Thein Tin
died of blood cancer. However, sources say U Thein Tin was
tortured and his health was deteriorating when he was finally
admitted to hospital. He was already dying when he was taken to
hospital according to the sources, and the SPDC had long refused
his requests for proper medical care. 

He was detained in Insein Special Prison since March 1996 along
with well-known leaders and literary figures such as U Moe Thu, U
Kyaw Min and U Soe Thein. U Thein Tin was charged under Section
10(a) of the State Protection Act, which is designed 'to protect
the country from the dangers of those who wish to harm the
state'.

U Thein Tin, a writer by profession, was a former student leader
during 1962-63. He came to prominence during Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi's house arrest for his unwavering commitment and management
skills. U Thein Tin was well respected by both the leadership of
the NLD and the youth wing of the party.

In another development, the SPDC in Irrewaddy Division recently
sentenced three NLD members to jail terms of four-and-half years
each with hard labor for political defiance activities. According
to a local source, Tin Aung, Wa Tote (a.k.a. Khin Maung Oo) and
Aye Win from Bassein Township NLD Organizing Committee, were
detained on February 13, 1998, for flying a peacock flag on the
school flagpole of one of the township high schools.

According to the source, the three flew the peacock flag, which
is the symbol of democracy and defiance, on the flagpole of
Bassein No.1 High School on the morning of Union Day (February
12). They were subsequently arrested and sentenced under four
different charges.      

The source says the three chose this method of defiance to
protest against military repression, human rights violations and
the restrictions placed on NLD members in Irrewaddy Division. The
military has been targeting NLD members in Irrewaddy Division
because of their strong support for the restoration of democracy
and human rights in Burma.  

All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF)