The NLD leaders from Yenangyaung still detained

DVB (2003 July 12)

Although the NLD Central Women members who were arrested on the 10 of July were released, the NLD leaders of Yenangyaung, Magwe Division in Upper Burma who were arrested on the 6th and 8th of July are still not released by the authority. Ko Than Aung, yenangyaung Township chief organiser and Ko Aung Thein Myint, the NLD youth who were arrested on the 6th have been charged at Myothit police station with Act 5J.U Khin Win, the chairman and the secretary U Maung Maung who were arrested on the 8th were also taken to Myothit.
A woman member of Magwe Division NLD told the DVB that they were taken there so that they could be charged and tried there with other people. As the four men were working within the capacity of the activists of a legal party they are innocent and they will be defended with proper lawyers, the woman insisted. If the women were released after sending the letter, the four men including U Khin Win should also be released, she argued.

Daw Khin Saw Htay, the vice-chairman of Yenangyaung Township NLD also said that the action of the four is within the legal boundary:

Daw Khin Saw Htay : The arrests of Yenagyaung Township NLD chairman U Khin Win and the secretary U Maung Maung are related to the chief organiser U Than Aung. Ko Than Aung tried to get the signatures of the MPs of No,1. Natmauk. They arrested him and as he is the chief organiser, the chairman and the secretary are held responsible. People informed us that they would be arrested but as they were doing the right things, they didn’t do anything to evade the arrests. They could have stayed away but they didn’t because they believed that they were doing their duties within the legal boundary. Thus, they got arrested. They are doing that for the better futures of new generations.

Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 12 Jul 03