Burmese political prisoner dies in detention

DVB ( 2 Feb 2004 )

A Burmese political prisoner who had been detained beyond his release date by Burma’s military junta State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) died on 28 January at Taungoo prison in central Burma.

56 year old U Shwe Tin from Thingangyun Township, Rangoon was given a 10 year sentence along with his son in law Ko Yan Linn in March 1994.

They were accused of having ‘illegal’ contacts with members of the then already defunct Burma Communist Party (BCP). They were executive committee members of People’s Progressive Party which was forced to abolish by the military authority.

U Shwe Tin had been suffering from cancer but the military authorities made no attempt to treat him, and prison doctors still have to inform his family members of his death. He is the 85th political prisoner who died in detention since 1988.

Critics claim that the SPDC is systematically forcing political prisoners to rot in prisons in an effort to eliminate all the oppositions against the army without much expense.

Meanwhile, the Karen National Union (KNU) which recently agreed a provisional ceasefire with the junta is demanding the release of all its prisoners for a reunion with their family members.