More NLD members are under pressure to give up their political activities

DVB ( August 7,2003)

Seven NLD members including the chairman of Kachin State NLD who were arrested by the military intelligence (MI) shortly after May 30 Dipeyin have not been sentenced to prison by the military junta. But they were under the pressure to give up politics.

At the beginning, these seven members were charged with the despised Act 5J but later the charge was changed to Act 505.

According to a NLD member in Myikyina, “We heard about the change of the charge from their families.”

In addition, SPDC tried to make them agree not to take part in political activities after their release.

“We also heard about if they agreed to give up any political activities, they would be released scotch free,” said the member. “They are not being tried at a normal court but at the one inside Myikyina Prison.”

“People who are charged with Act 505 would tend to be sent to jails for two years and those who are charged with Act 5J would normally get seven years of imprisonment,” he added.

The first four arrested were U Hla Seng, the chairman of Kachin State NLD, the secretary U Ne Win, joint secretary U Hlaing Zaw Win and the NLD’s legal representative U Mram Bawk La. They were arrested on 31st May and 1st June.

Later, three more members of Myikyina Township NLD, Daw Ngwe Kyaing, Ko Tin Soe and Ko Kawa Nawseng were arrested on 18th of July.

According to a NLD member, all of them are detained in Myikyina Prison and are being tried together with one charge.