NLD women detained for writing to General Than Shwe

DVB (2003 July 11)

It is reported that at least three NLD women members including the MP of No.1, Mogok Constituency, Daw May Hnin Kyi who has been living in Rangoon were arrested by the military intelligence [MI] last night.
The MI agents simultaneously swooped on their houses at around nine o’clock and arrested them, said members of their families. The other two women who were arrested at the same time with Daw May Hnin Kyi are Daw Myint Myint Sein and Daw Leh Leh. Daw Myint Myint Sein is the chairman of Central NLD Women and Daw Leh Leh is the treasurer.

Other NLD members are continued to be arrested but the DVB hasn’t received confirmed reports yet. It is assumed that they are all being detained at No.6, MI Interrogation Centre and it is not known how they are going to be dealt with. Although the MI hasn’t given any reason for their arrests, people close to the NLD believe that the women were arrested for writing a letter to General Than Shwe on behalf of the NLD Women.

They were arrested after the letter was composed and sent by post to General Than Shwe in recent days. The letter included three demands: to immediately release all the people including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who were arrested in relation to May 30 Dipeyin [Tabayin] assault, to re-open all the NLD offices as soon as possible and to let an independent commission enquire into the Dipeyin incident. Similar demands were made by NLD Youth and some NLD MPs and four members in Magwe Division were arrested while preparing to sign the letter.

Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 11 Jul 03