Ailing NLD party worker arrested

by Phanida

Monday, 16 March 2009 20:09

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – A former South Dagon Township Organizing Committee member of the National League for Democracy party in Rangoon Division, was arrested by the authorities on Sunday.  Kyi Lwin (53) who had retired as the Township NLD organizing committee member, after suffering a stroke a year and-a-half ago, was arrested on Sunday. He was arrested by about 30 people, including Police Special Branch (SB), Ward Peace and Development Council (WPDC) members and Swan Arrshin, who said they needed to interrogate him. "They entered our house and searched all the papers and documents. They asked him if he had any contact with Pauk Sa from Sanchaung Township. They told him that they wanted to ask him about matters relating to Sanchaung," Thein Myint Tun, his younger brother told Mizzima. Pauk Sa a.k.a. Thet Wei, Chairman of the Sanchaung Township NLD, has been serving a two-year prison sentence since September 2008, for lodging complaints to the International Labour Organization (ILO), against the use of child soldiers in Burma. However, he was released from prison on February 21, as part of the government’s amnesty granted to more than 6,000 prisoners from across the country. "We heard that he is still in 'Aungthapyay Interrogation Centre'. He was earning his living by selling drums of water. He was an active party member in NLD, working together with Pauk Sa," Thein Myint Tun said. Nyan Win, the NLD party spokesperson said Kyi Lwin had served the party only as an ordinary party member, for the past one and-a-half years due to his poor health. Similarly, NLD Ahlone Township member and NLD HQ Social Aid Group member, Ma Cho a.k.a. Ma Myint Myint San was arrested by the authorities, while on her way home from office on March 13. "She was arrested on her way home from office. She lives in Ahlone Township. At about 11 p.m. on that night, the local authority (Ward level PDC committee members) came to her home and informed her family that she was being held in Thuwanna stadium, and they had taken her there to question her about matters relating to a telephone," an intimate friend of Ma Cho said. Nyan Win said that Ma Cho was helping the families of political prisoners. NLD Thaketa Township organizing committee member and photographer for every event of NLD HQ, U Thein Lwin, was also arrested in Taungoo, two weeks ago. Meanwhile, Sanchaung Township NLD Organizing Committee member Ko Sein Hlaing and Ko Shwe Jo from NLD Hlaing Township, were arrested on March 6 and 8 respectively. According to Nyan Win, the party was enquiring into the reasons for their arrests. "We cannot say anything yet, as we do not know the reasons for their arrests. We still do not know why they have been arrested and what questions they are being asked. We are still enquiring about them," he said. < Prev   Next >