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NEWS - Myanmar Denies Detaining Pri



Subject: NEWS - Myanmar Denies Detaining Prisoner

Myanmar Denies Detaining Prisoner

 .c The Associated Press

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Myanmar's military government said a
3-year-old girl dubbed the world's ``youngest prisoner of conscience''
by a human rights group had never been detained.

The girl's mother was detained because of her involvement with the All
Burma Students' Democratic Front, an ``outlawed armed terrorist group,''
said a government statement released today.

The statement denied allegations by the human rights group Amnesty
International that the child had also been detained and said she was
staying with her grandparents.

Nineteen people were detained last week in an effort to stop an
anti-government protest in the central city of Bago, also called Pegu,
according to Amnesty and the All Burma Students' Democratic Front.

Amnesty said Thursday the girl had been released after five days in
detention.

Eight of those detained were reportedly relatives of activist Kyaw
Wunna, including his wife, Ma Khin Khin Leh, and their 3-year-old
daughter, Thaint Wunna Khin.

Amnesty, in a statement issued Thursday noting the girl's reported
release, said it ``is encouraging that the Burmese authorities have
realized that detaining a 3-year-old is as meaningless as it is cruel.''

The military in Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been harshly
criticized by human rights groups and Western countries for suppressing
civil liberties and refusing to turn over power to an elected
government.

AP-NY-07-30-99 0311EDT