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AP-Myanmar Frees Opposition Members (r)



Subject: Re: AP-Myanmar Frees Opposition Members 

positive sign.

----- Original Message -----
To: <burmanet2-l@xxxxxxxx>
Cc: <burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, November 12, 1999 2:23 AM
Subject: AP-Myanmar Frees Opposition Members


> NOVEMBER 11, 10:23 EST
>
> Myanmar Frees Opposition Members
>
> YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - The military regime has freed all members of the
> women's and youth wings of Myanmar's main opposition party who were
detained
> since September 1998, the party said Thursday.
>
> The National League for Democracy, headed by Nobel Peace laureate Aung San
> Suu Kyi, said the final group of detainees were freed Nov. 4.
>
> No figure was given for other party members remaining in custody, though
> they are estimated to number in the dozens. Hundreds more have been
> imprisoned over the years for separate offenses.
>
> Recently released members said they were not tortured and did not have to
> sign statements to obtain their freedom. They had been detained in
military
> camps or prisons.
>
> ``We were treated well during our 14 months' stay,'' said Tun Aung, 26, a
> youth wing member who was freed with 17 others. ``Our usual dish was
either
> boiled beans or mixed vegetables, but we were given meat once a week.''
>
> The crackdown by the ruling State Peace and Development Council was a bid
to
> smash the party after Suu Kyi and other leaders created a committee to
> represent a parliament elected in 1991.
>
> The National League for Democracy overwhelmingly won the elections, but
the
> military ignored the result and never released its hold on power. The
> military has ruled Myanmar, also known as Burma, since 1962.
>
>