REPORT - Illegal arrest of member f

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Subject: REPORT - Illegal arrest of member for refusing to demolish

Subject: STATEMENT 72 (6/99)(translation)


National League for Democracy
No:(97/B), West Shwegondine Road
Bahan Township, Bahan

STATEMENT 72 (6/99)(translation)


1. Letter dated 3 June 1999 from he President of the Women National
League for Democracy to the Chairman of the State Peace and Development
Council is published hereunder for information regarding the facts of
the case.

Start

" Subject - Illegal arrest of member for refusing to demolish
residential house for agricultural purpose".

1. Information received is that on the 4th February 1999 Dagon Myothit
authorities summoned 63 residents (including Daw Khin Win Kyi of Ward
17) and instructed them to break down all their houses.

2. They were given four options: - return to your place of birth, move
to the wetlands of Nyaungdon, move to Yakhine New Existence project, or
be arrested.

3. On the 3 March, 1999 the chairman of the district PDC, officers from
the Home Affairs and Police departments, and owners of Tet-Nay Company
spoke to them to put pressure again.

4.á Daw Khin Win Kyi, owner of a house, said that she was not a
trespasser and would suffer great hardship and inconvenience as a
consequence of relocation. Moreover, being a member of the NLD she had
been marginalised and was not prepared to break down her house.

5. Later, she told them that if she was compelled to move she wanted a
plot of land, or if she had to move to the Yakhine area she wanted 10
acres, a pair of buffaloes or cows, 100 feet perimeter plot of land, 3
baskets of seed grain, a house to live in, and cost of relocating, or
compensation of five lakhs.

6. Because of this, the Police (Dagon Myothit South) arrested her on
the 23 May 1999. The same day she was charged in court under Section
5(1) of Restriction of Movement Law for no offence whatsoever. This
"bully-boy", illegal and inappropriate application of an irrelevant law
(a law meant to be applied to habitual offenders) against a member of
our organisation is most unjust and despicable.

7. We therefore emphatically denounce such activity and ask that those
who have been thus illegally arrested by immediately set free.

Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy

Rangoon
8 June 1999