Media Release from The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)
Political Prisoners Punished in Insein Prison
[Mae Sot, Thailand] Five political prisoners in Rangoon’s Insein prison have been held in punishment cells [military dog cells] and banned from receiving family visits since 11 May 2009, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) has learned. The reason for their punishment is unknown.
They are U Naing Naing (National League for Democracy Member of Parliament), U Soe Han (NLD member and lawyer), Aung Naing (NLD member), Lwin Ko Latt (student and member of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions), and U Sandimar (senior abbot monk).
U Naing Naing is suffering from a hernia and also hypertension. U Soe Han has eye problems. Their families have been banned from visiting, and have been unable to provide them with essential medicines. The families are now very worried for the health of their loved ones.
Due to inadequate healthcare provision in Burma’s prisons, political prisoners rely on their family members to bring them medicines and other essential items. The ruling military regime has prevented the International Committee of the Red Cross from conducting prison visits since November 2005.
Security in Insein prison is currently very tight, due to the ongoing trial of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, her two live-in party members Daw Khin Khin Win and Daw Win Ma Ma, and US citizen John William Yettaw.
Background on their cases:
NLD MP U Naing Naing aka Saw Naing Naing was arrested on 14 September 2000. He was charged with Section 5(j) of the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act, and Section 17/20 of the 1962 Printers and Publishers Registration Act. He was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment.
NLD member and lawyer U Soe Han was arrested on 14 September 2000. He was also charged with Section 5(j) of the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act, and Section 17/20 of the 1962 Printers and Publishers Registration Act, and sentenced to 21 years imprisonment.
NLD member Aung Naing was arrested on 11 June 2005. The charges against him are unknown, but he was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.
Student and ABFSU member Lwin Ko Latt was arrested on 26 September 2003. He was charged with Section 5(j) of the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act and Section 17/1 of the 1908 Unlawful Association Act. He was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.
U Sandimar, a monk and senior abbot from Kyar monastery, Pazundaung Township, Rangoon, was arrested on 7 September 2007. He was charged with Sections 17/1 and 17/2 of the 1908 Unlawful Association Act and Sections 5 and 6 of the 1988 Law Relating to the Forming of Organisations (State Law and Order Restoration Council Law No. 6/88 30 September 1988). On 14 November 2008 he was sentenced to 8 years imprisonment.
For further information, please contact:
Tate Naing, AAPP Secretary, +66(0)812878751
Bo Kyi, AAPP Joint-Secretary, +66(0)81-3248935
P.O Box 93, Mae Sot, Tak Province 63110, Thailand
e.mail: info@aappb.org website: http://www.aappb.org