U Tin Aung Aung not dead but in Kale Prison

DVB ( July 18,2003 )

It is reported that the MP of Mandalay Northwest Township, U Tin Aung Aung who was arrested during the May 30 Dipeyin massacre is being detained in Kale Prison, Sagaing Division. At the beginning of the crisis, it was reported that U Tin Aung Aung was among the 8 dead people and his family was said to be very upset by the news. During the second week of June, the ICRC notified his family that he is detained in Kale Prison.

U Tin Aung Aung was arrested by the military intelligence [MI] soon after the 1990 general election and he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He was incarcerated in Insein and Tharawaddy Prison for eight years and released in 1998. He was arrested the second time during the May 30 massacre and he is being detained in Kale Prison. But he is still not allowed to see members of his family, said his son as follows:

U Tin Aung Aung's son : We didn’t hear anything about him. Of course, we were very worried. Then, the ICRC notified us in a letter that he is in Kale and not dead and we felt slightly better…We haven’t got the plan to see him yet. They told us that we can’t see him yet and therefore we haven’t planned the trip yet. He was once arrested in 1990. He was imprisoned 8 years. He was first incarcerated in Rangoon Insein Prison and then in Tharawaddy Prison.

The youngest daughter of U Tin Aung Aung who was only 8 years old when her father was arrested and now studying in university gave her reactions as follows:

U Tin Aung Aung's daughter : He told us not to worry and that he is well. Do your work diligently. That is what he wrote. We are feeling very worried, of course. We are feeling very strange without our father in everything we do. I am very proud of him for working for the nation and its people. But I want to live with my own family. As he is not with us I am feeling sorry. I am proud of the fact that my father is working for the country and people which not many people could do. I want to comfort and encourage the children like us and their parents. I think it is better to work for the country and encourage each other instead of feeling sad for oneself.

U Tin Htut Oo, the MP of Le-Way Township, U Paw Khin, the MP of No.1, Myingyan Township Constituency, the vice-chairman of the NLD, U Tin Oo are also being detained in Kale Prison with U Tin Aung Aung. Moreover, 22 people who were severely wounded during the May 30 assault are being treated in Monywa military hospital. 29 people are being detained in Shwebo Prison and 17 people are in Khamti Prison and 130 people are still missing, according to a list compiled by a NLD member. But the SPDC still hasn’t issued a precise list of people who are being detained and who were killed.