Burma's 88 Generation Students complete a year in custody

by Myint Maung

Friday, 22 August 2008 11:12

New Delhi – Burma's military rulers have continued detaining prominent 88 Generation Student leaders for a year without trial, their lawyer said. Aung Thein, the defense counsel, said 13 of the 88 generation student leaders including Min Ko Naing, have been successively remanded in absentia by the court and are still in judicial custody. The 13 activists, who were arrested on August 21, last year during a mid-night raid, on Thursday completes one year in detention, without any legal proceedings though they were charged without being produced in court.  "My clients are losing their rights. The accused must be produced in court to take remand for their judicial custody. Remand in absentia is not provided in the law," advocate Aung Thein, who acts as the defence counsel for the student leaders and has criminal power attorney from them, said. He added that only in cases of injury or severely in need of medical attention, can the court examine and remand their custody in absentia. But the students are repeatedly remanded in absentia though they are in fine health to be produce before the court. On August 19, a few days after the ruling junta hike the price of fuels, the 88 generation student leaders took to the street in solidarity with the poor people who are hard hit by the skyrocketing commodity prices that came in parallel with the fuel price hike. More than 400 people joined the 88 generation student leaders in their peaceful and silent protest march through the city of Rangoon. But the regime was quick in its response and conducted a mid-night raid on August 21 and arrested 13 key leaders of the 88 generation group. Aung Thein, said since then the student leaders were continuously remanded by the court and were never produce at the court for trial of their case, though they were charged for at least five counts. "The accused have the rights to present to the judge what they want to. In these remands that are announced inside the prison, they are denied of these rights. The court could not examine and question the accused while we could not ask anything to the judge," Aung Thein said. Meanwhile, Bo Kyi of the Thailand based Assistant Association of Political Prisoners (AAPP), "The student leaders are unlawfully arrested. And then they are deprived of their lawful rights in the prison including medical care. The government is doing what they should not do." Bo Kyi said, the student leaders continued arrest proves the severe human rights conditions in Burma and the lack of the rule of Law. "They [the students] fought for democracy and human rights in the 1988 popular uprising. They have served long prison terms before. Now they have again been arrested for their struggle for democracy, human rights and for protesting against rising commodity prices," Bo Kyi said. "We pay our heartfelt respect to them for standing by the people. They are role models for the next generation of students," he added. Meanwhile, the student leaders, reportedly, are now facing health problems and are suffering from one or other ailment in prison. Aung Aung Tun, the younger brother of one of the student leaders Ko Ko Gyi who recently met with the detained student leaders, said his brother and others are suffering from various illness, due to their constant detention and lack of medical treatment. "They have already suffered various diseases during their previous lengthy prison terms before being arrested again last year. My elder brother's major complaint is indigestion. He is trying his best to prevent his disease from worsening. He's having only gruel in prison instead of rice," Aung Aung Tun said. "No one's health is in good shape in prison. Min Ko Naing is also suffering from eye problem, hypertension, high blood pressure, heart ailment and bone diseases," he added. Similarly, Mya Aye is also reportedly suffering from heart disease and Min Zeya is suffering from hypertension. They both need a timely medical treatment to prvent the diseases from worsening, he added. < Prev   Next >