Junta officials release opposition youth arrested by mistake

by Zarni

Friday, 15 August 2008 19:02

Chiang Mai – The Burmese military junta authorities in Rangoon released a youth member of Burma's main opposition party – the National League for Democracy – who they said was mistakenly arrested on Thursday evening. Yan Naing Tun, a NLD youth member of Kyimyindine Township, was picked up from his residence at about 11 p.m. on Thursday by ward peace and development council chairman who came with three policemen. "He was taken to the Ministry of Home Affairs and was interrogated briefly. Authorities said his identity was mixed up with another person called Yan Naing Soe and he was released this morning," an NLD youth in-charge, who wished not to be named, told Mizzima. The youth was taken away by authorities saying he was called by officials in the ministry of home affairs, and was briefly interrogated. But there were no reports of torture during interrogation, the Youth in-charge said. "This is the first time that authorities had arrested someone by mistake," he added. The NLD youth in-charge said Yan Naing Soe, who the officials were searching for, is not a member of the NLD. He denied knowing him. The Burmese junta in recent weeks have stepped up the arrest of political and human rights activists. Last week, authorities arrested Myint Aye, leader of the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Network (HRDP) along with fellow human rights activists Myo Min, Thant Zaw Myint, and student activists from the 88 generation group Myo Than, Ma Ma Oo, Than Naing, and NLD youth member Zaw Zaw Aung. On Tuesday, authorities arrested Nyi Pu, chairman of the Arakan State NLD's organizing committee, and Dr. Tin Min Htut, an elected Member of Parliament from Panthanaw of Irrawaddy division. < Prev   Next >