Mother and Daughter - Two Burmese Political Prisoners: Want to meet with AI representatives.

Bangkok, Dec. 17:Two Burmese female political Prisoners, a mother and a daughter who were sentenced to imprisonment 21 years and 42 years respectively had sought the meeting with the visiting Amnesty international delegation in the Myaungmya Prison, situated in Irrawaddy, where they are held at present.

The information Unit of the National Government for the Union of Burma (NCGUB) - Government in exile, in its press release states as follows:

Two Burmese female political prisoners, Daw Aye Myint Than (50) and her daughter Hninn May Aung @ Nobel Aye (27) have been arrested since September 1998. Daw Aye Myint Than was the joint-secretary of National League for Democracy (NLD)Thingangyun Township and sentenced to 21 years imprisonment as she is a strong supporter of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD. She was arrested on 6 September 1998 during advance movements for the CRPP.

Hninn May Aung was a third year Physics student from Dagon University. She organized students and took leadership in 3 demonstrations in Rangoon. She also delivered clandestine bulletins from underground students' organization. She was arrested on 21 September 1998 and sentenced to 42 years imprisonment. She is the only female student leader who was sentenced to the most severe penalty of 42 years imprisonment.

Although the two women, mother and daughter, have been suffering from serious sickness, they are still committed to their political cause and stand firmly in the junta's Myaungmya Prison which is situated in Irrawaddy Division far away from their family.

According to Radio Free Asia (RFA - Burmese Service, based in Australia), the two female political prisoners have written a letter asking to give a chance of meeting with Amnesty International Members currently visiting in Burma.

The following is an unofficial translation of the news from RFA ON 3 December 2003.

Daw Aye Myint Than and daughter write to Amnesty International. They resolutely carry on the fight.

Daw Aye Myint Than and her daughter Ma Hninn May Aung(aka) Nobel Aye, political prisoners incarcerated at the Myaungmya jail had written a letter asking to be interviewed by Amnesty International members, who are currently visiting Burma. Daw Aye Myint Than was the NLD Joint Secretary,Thingangyun township, Rangoon Division and she was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment while her daughter Ma Hninn May Aung to 42 years imprisonment.

We understand that both have health problems.

RFA contacted U Thein Nyunt, MP for Thingangyun for more details and his answers to the questions are given below.

U Thein Nyunt : On 6th September 1998 the Military Intelligence went to Daw Aye Myint Than’s house and took her away saying that it was for a short time. Later she was charged under 5 (J) and sentenced to 21 years imprisonment. Her daughter was also charged under 5(J) and sentenced to 42 years imprisonment. Both were not allowed any defence lawyers and appeal against the sentence was also denied to them.

Question : What about their state of health now in the Myaungmya prison?

Answer: Since the year 2000, Daw Aye Mynt Than has been suffering from spondylitis and a stroke. She is in a very poor state of health. This year menopause has set in and she has suffered a second stroke. The daughter Ma Nay Min Aung suffers from diabetes and is physically weak.

Question: We understand that DawAye Myint Than has mentioned of personal suffering that she is undergoing.

Answer: She is agonizing because when she was taken away, her 6 year old son was asleep and she could not wish him good-bye. Because of her deteriorating physical condition, she thinks she will not live to fulfill her parental obligation to have her son initiated as monks. As a mother, she is always anxious for her other daughter and son. Because of the dulbous growths in her neck and hip, she is prone to paralysis and may have to just live out her life in jail. But she believes that her fight is not just for her family, but also for the entire country so she will never give in.

Question: what is the situation for the family?

Answer: Her letter shows that they are struggling for survival with her husband selling second hand books and her daughter giving tuition. When mother and daughter were taken away their income dwindled so the younger daughter who was studying for a diploma in Agriculture had discontinue her studies due to lack of income. They are swimming in this circle of problems.

U Thein Nyunt went on to explain that the most important fact is that they want to meet with Amnesty International representatives who are currently in Rangoon.

When asked how he was intending to proceed in the matter, his reply was that last year the National League for Democracy was able to meet with AI representatives. He hoped to inform them of the request of the mother and daughter, when they met with them again this year.

- Asian Tribune -