[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

NLD Statement 68: The Arrests of U



National League for Democracy
97/B, West Shwegondine Road
Bahan Township, Rangoon

Statement - 68 (9/98)

September 22, 1998

1. The NLD hereby announces the contents of the letter sent to
the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)
regarding the arrests of U Kyaw San, who is the NLD Central
Committee member and Chairman of the Sagaing Division Organizing
Committee, and Ma Mi Mi Khaing, a member of the NLD Youth Central
Supporting Group.

Subject: Lawless and Unjust Acts of the Military Authorities

A. At about 21:00 on September 6, 1998, security forces
comprising officers from the Military Intelligence Service (MIS)
and officials from the local SPDC arrived at the home of U Kyaw
San who is a Central Committee member and Chairman of the Sagaing
Division Organizing Committee of the NLD. One of the local SPDC
officials was U Thaung Pe. All of them arrived in police
vehicles. As soon as they arrived, they sounded the horns
incessantly and loudly. Without permission and without a warrant,
they climbed over the fence and forced the people in the house to
open the door.

B. There were only two people in the house. They told the
security officials to come back the following morning as it was
not appropriate security-wise for them to enter that night.  They
did not open the door for the officials. The raiding party then
invaded the premises (compound) and pounded the main door and all
windows. They tried to open the main door with a crowbar. When it
failed, the raiding party spent the whole night pounding on the
house and making noises. They also cut the telephone line.

C. In the morning of September 7, 1998, a group of officials led
by captain Ye Kyaw Thu from MIS-6, also including 5 plainclothes
officers and U Thaung Pe from the local SPDC, arrested U Kyaw San
without a warrant.

D. At about 21:20 on the same day, a group of officers including
a captain from MIS-6, a police lieutenant, a police sergeant and
another MIS officer known as Saya Nyan Maung forced the people at
the house to open the door and conducted a search with a legal
warrant. They demanded that all papers be handed over to them.
The owner of the home had to comply accordingly.

E. The raiding party, however, was not satisfied with what the
owner gave them. They therefore conducted a thorough search all
over the house and forced the owner to open all boxes including
the ones where all the valuables were kept.

F. The members of the raiding party were very rude. Despite
repeated begging, they took away personal diaries, papers and
notebooks that had been kept with great care. The notes had been
taken by U Kyaw San during the training period at the Army
Institute of General Staff while he was serving in the army as a
Lieutenant Colonel. They then forced the owner to sign an
acknowledgement that the materials were given to the officers
with consent. Instead the owner signed that the materials had
been confiscated.

G. On September 19, 1998, U Kyaw San's family was informed by the
MIS-6 that he wanted his family to bring him some personal items.
So the family went to the MIS-6 headquarters. However, they were
told that U Kyaw San had been sent to Insein Special Prison.

H. Invading the house without permission is a violation of
trespassing laws. Furthermore, conducting searches and taking U
Kyaw San into custody without a warrant is deemed to be an act of
aggression and lawlessness. The NLD strongly objects to these
actions committed by the authorities.

I. Another similar incident took place on September 11, 1998. Ma
Mi Mi Khaing, a member of NLD Youth Central Supporting Group, was
arrested on her way home. On the day of her arrest, Ma Mi Mi
Khaing dropped by at her friend's house located in Northern New
Dagon Town. After she had left her friend's house, MIS officers
forcibly arrested her on Mandalay Road in the town. 

J. Four days later, the parents of Ma Mi Mi Khaing still did not
know what had happened to their daughter. They had no idea where
she was taken and held. They were extremely concerned about her.
Only after four days did they realize that their daughter had
been arrested as if she were a criminal.  Sergeant Tun Sein led
the MIS officers from MIS-26. The officers blocked the whole road
and arrested her. The NLD later learned that Sergeant Tun Sein
handed Ma Mi Mi Khaing over to another officer, Aung Thura who is
in charge of Rangoon eastern region. The NLD strongly objects to
this lawless act.

2. 

A. The actions of the military authorities in the case of U Kyaw
San can be regarded as an extreme abuse of power and demonstrate
an indescribable grudge held against him. 

B. The actions of the military authorities in the case of Ma Mi
Mi Khaing are an extreme contradiction of traditional Burmese
customs. It was entirely inappropriate that a young woman was
forcibly taken away in public by a group of men.  


Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy

Rangoon
First Waxing Moon, B.E 1360
September 22, 1998