Reuters-ICRC has visited 18,000 pri

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Subject: Reuters-ICRC has visited 18,000 prisoners in Myanmar 

ICRC has visited 18,000 prisoners in Myanmar
10:50 a.m. Sep 03, 1999 Eastern
GENEVA, Sept 3 (Reuters) - The International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC) said on Friday it had registered 18,000 prisoners in Myanmar,
including 600 security detainees, since beginning prison visits in the Asian
country last May.

In a statement, the humanitarian agency said its delegates had visited nine
places of detention including Insein Prison near the capital Yangon, which
is believed to be the country's largest, and three places of administrative
internment.

Visits included a complete inspection of each facility with access to all
detainees and private interviews with security inmates who are allowed to
write messages to their families.

The ICRC did not say how many of the security detainees were members of the
National League for Democracy, the main opposition party led by Nobel
laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

The NLD accuses the military government of cracking down on pro-democracy
campaigners and holding 1,000 political prisoners. The government denies it
is holding any political prisoners.

``The ICRC and the country's authorities have agreed that delegates would
able to return on a regular basis to all of the places visited,'' the
statement said. ``The programme will gradually be extended to all detention
facilities in Myanmar.''

The delegates met authorities at each jail and made recommendations on the
situation they had observed. Confidential written reports were given to
Myanmar authorities, the ICRC said.