Five Burmese pro-democracy women released from detention over letter

DVB (2003 July 12)

It has been learned that all five NLD [National League for Democracy] women officials including Daw May Hnin Kyi, elected representative from Mogok Township Constituency-1, who were arrested on 10 July Thursday night, have been released last night.
Those released were Daw May Hnin Kyi, Daw Khin Hnin Soe, Daw Aye Aye Mar, Daw Le Le, and Daw Myint Myint Sein. The NLD Central Women Committee members said they were all interrogated separately and were not allowed to meet with each other. The most important point during 24 hours of interrogation was their letter written to SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] Chairman Sr Gen Than Shwe seeking answers to the Tabayin incident.

Daw Aye Aye Mar, one of the NLD Central Women Committee members, summarized the arrest and interrogation.

Daw Aye Aye Mar : Well, they [the Military Intelligence, MI] came for me and Daw Le Le about midnight. I was unable to meet them once inside. We were all kept in separate rooms. After they detained us, they asked us why we sent the letter. That was about it. They did not ask much. Eight of us signed and sent the letter. As far as I know, they included Daw May Hnin Kyi, Daw Le Le, myself, Daw Khin Hnin Soe, and Daw Khin Hnin Myint. I am not sure about Daw Ohn. We did not see each other inside. I am not even certain whether five or six of us were detained.

When asked whether they were told to withdraw the letter to the senior general, she replied:

Daw Aye Aye Mar : No, they did not ask us to withdraw. They said there is nothing wrong with sending the letter. They just wanted to know about the letter and assured us that nothing was the matter.

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