SPDC continues detention of opposition members in Mandalay Division

DVB ( July 28,2003 )

It is reported that at least 10 NLD members in Mandalay Division were arrested by the military intelligence (MI) and some of them had been imprisoned and some are being tried in courts. The imprisoned are U Sein Tun, the chairman of Singu Township NLD and four other NLD members and they were each given 2 years in prison by Singu Township court.

Similarly, a NLD member of Madaya Township and other six were arrested and they were each sentenced to three years and three months in prison.

U Saw Htay, the vice-chairman of Mandalay Division NLD and also a NLD MP and the secretary U Kan Tun and the treasurer U Ko Gyi were arrested and they are being tried at Chan Aye Tharzan Township in Mandalay. U Ko Gyi was arrested on the 24th of July after he went to see his son, Ko Kyaw Soe Linn at Khamti Prison.

A NLD leader from Mandalay Division told the DVB about the detained and imprisoned people as follows:

A NLD leader from Mandalay Division : On the 19th of July, the vice-chairman U Saw Htay and the secretary U Hla Tun were arrested. On the 24th of July, U Ko Gyi was arrested. U Ko Gyi went to see his son Kyaw Soe Linn at Khamti. He was arrested on his way home at the airport just when he landed. Six people from Madaya including U Nyo were arrested for giving Daw Aung San Suu Kyi protection during her Mogok to Mandalay journey. U Nyo was a NLD vice-chairman before and became a monk from that position. He provided protection for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and team at Madaya during her trip and he was arrested with the charges of throwing stones, shooting catapult and beating people with sticks. I am told that he is in Mandalay Prison. The six are each given three-year-and-three-month in prison. Three from Mogok and four from Singu are detained with the charge of throwing stones. The four from Singu are each given two years and the six from Madaya are given three years and three months.

DVB : Are the people who were imprisoned all NLD members?

A NLD leader from Mandalay Division : U Nyo from Madaya was a NLD member but as he became a monk, we can’t say that he is an NLD member. Before, he was the vice-chairman. The remaining five are all civilians. They are not NLD members.