Interview with the father of a detainee

DVB ( July 24,2003 )

The DVB has reported that 17 NLD youth were arrested and detained at Khamti Prison, Sagaing Division after the Dipeyin incident.
Among them is Ko Myo Zaw Aung, a third year medical student from Mandalay Medical School. Ko Myo Zaw Aung is a native of Mogaung, Kachin State and while studying at Mandalay he had been supporting the trips of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to Sagaing and Mandalay Divisions. Then, he was arrested on May the 30th and sent to Khamti Prison. His disappearance was only learnt by his family members when they were informed by the headmaster of the medical school of his disappearance, said his father U Pann Kyaing. Then, the family learnt from the military intelligence [MI] that he was detained at Khamti Prison and his father went to see him there.

U Pann Kyaing told the DVB about his son’s condition as follows:

U Pann Kyaing : He has the quality of a leader. Therefore, wherever he is, he likes to do thing brilliantly…I didn’t know that he was included in that incident. I am working for the government. I only knew about it when his school told me. They said that he was not attending the school. When we tried to find out, the MI told us that he is in prison. Only then did I realise what had happened.

DVB : When did you go and see him?

U Pann Kyaing : I went there since the 9th of July. From Mogaung I went to Tanaing. From Tanaing I travelled by boat. It took me more than a week.

DVB : Some people said that you have to travel to the prison by boat. It costs more than 10,000 kyats, they said.

U Pann Kyaing : Yes, it is true. It costs 10,000 kyats even from Khamti to the prison.

DVB : Did the ICRC help you with travel expenses?

U Pann Kyaing : …When I went to see them yesterday, they gave me the refund.

DVB : When you were there, was it easy to see him? Could you tell us a little bit how you tried to see him and the like?

U Pann Kyaing : I went to see him with a group of people sent by the ICRC. I could not see him on the first day. We could only see him the next day with the permission of the MI. They [MI agents] themselves conveyed us to him.

DVB : How many hours could you talk to him?

U Pann Kyaing : We could only talk 15 minutes.

DVB : Did he look well mentally and physically?

U Pann Kyaing : As far as I saw, he looked well.

DVB : Did you see any wounds on his body from the May 30 incident?

U Pann Kyaing : I saw nothing like that. I didn’t ask him either because as soon as I saw him look well, I told him to look after himself. He didn’t tell me anything…he said that he just went to help. He didn’t tell me anything else.

DVB : Have they passed sentences on him? Or have they charged him with anything?

U Pann Kyaing : They haven’t charged him with anything. They are just detaining him like that. There is no charge against him…

DVB : How do you feel about your son’s predicament as a parent?

U Pann Kyaing : Without saying whether he is right or wrong in his deeds, I feel very sad for him. I am relieved that he was not seriously wounded. If he is not dead, he will be free one day. I don’t know how long it will be. Nobody could guess. It could be days or months. You can’t say…But I want him to continue his studies. We are feeling sad that he was imprisoned.

The family members of Ko Kyaw Soe Linn, Ko Zaw Win Tun and Myint Ngwe who are being detained with Ko Myo Zaw Aung also went to see them at the prison.