Hunger-strike Prionser Killed

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Media Release
Date: 27 May 1998


BURMESE POLITICAL PRISONER KILLED FOLLOWING HUNGER STRIKE


A political prisoner in Burma has been killed after being beaten
by prison authorities following a hunger strike by political
prisoners at the Thayawaddy Prison, 200 kilometres north of
Rangoon.

The prisoner, Aung Kyaw Moe was beaten and seriously injured on
23 May when the prison authorities attempted to break up the
hunger strike. Aung Kyaw Moe, who is believed to be 29 years old,
died in the prison hospital on the day of the beating.

Aung Kyaw Moe was a student of Rangoon Institute of Technology
(RIT) and had been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for his
involvement in 1996 December student demonstrations.

On May 22, political prisoners in Thayawaddy Prison staged a
hunger strike to mark the 8th anniversary of the 1990 elections,
in which the National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide
victory which has never been recognized by the military
government.

The political prisoners made two demands: that ruling State Peace
and Development Council (SPDC) treat them as political prisoners
and enter into a dialogue with the NLD to solve country's
problems peacefully.

However prison authorities, under instructions from the SPDC's
Ministry of Home Affairs, rejected their demands and warned the
prisoners to stop their hunger strike immediately. On 23 May
1998, the prison authorities cracked down on the hunger strikers
and eight political prisoners were beaten and seriously injured.

Afterwards, the family members of all the political prisoners at
Thayawaddy Prison were not allowed to visit in an attempt by the
authorities to prevent information spreading about the incident.

Meanwhile, political prisoners at Thayet Prison in Magwe Division
have also staged a hunger strike. However, the detail of this
strike are as yet unknown.

All Burma Students' Democratic Front

For further information please contact 01-654 4984