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NLD Statement 64/2000:

National League for Democracy
No: (97/B), West Shwegonedine Road
Bahan Township, Rangoon

Statement 64 (5/00) (translation)

1.On the afternoon of the 22nd of May 2000, U Tin U, (NLD Deputy Chairman) and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (NLD General Secretary), U Soe Myint,(Rangoon Division Organising Committee Chairman) and NLD members went to visit the families of the NLD Youth Wing members who had been arrested on the night of the 12th April, 2000 to make inquiries and comfort and support them.

2.Ko Tin Maung Win (a) Ko Pa Lay and Ko Myint Sein, members of the Kyimyindine Youth Wing having been assigned the task of escorting the leaders acted as guides and accompanied them to the homes of the arrested Youth Wing members. During that visit they caused no disturbance nor was there any violation of the law. However, on the following day (23 April 2000) at 5:00 p.m. they were arrested and taken into custody by the MIS(Military Intelligence Service).

3. At the time of the arrest Ko Tin Maung (a) Ko Pa Lay was at his workplace (Battery Shop) and was clothed in a vest and a longyi. Ko Myint Sein was busy making preparations for the religious ceremony that would have to be performed 7 days after his aunt's demise.

4. As more than 24 hours had elapsed since the arrests of the Youth Wing members, U Tin U (C hairman of the Central Legal Assistance Committee), and U Soe Han, (Chairman of the Rangoon Division Legal Assistance Committee) went to the Kyimyindine township police station at about 10:00 a.m on the 25 April to make inquires. They questioned why and under what provision of law the arrests were made; where the said youths were being held, whether charges had been preferred, whether the procedure was in accordance with law, whether remands had been obtained, and whether they would have the right of defense.

5.U Saw Htwe, chief of the township police said that no case had been opened against them at his station. He understood fully the implications of the inquiry but could give no answers.

6. From the above it is very clear that the military intelligence has complete control and can operate without adherence to the process and provisions of law. At the time of the arrests the police accompanied the Military Intelligence personnel without the knowledge of the chief of police in the township and no case file was opened nor any record made in the police station where the arrests occured. This is an example of the extreme abuse of power by the military intelligence.

7.We therefore condemn this illegal and unjust operation and emphatically urge that justice and the rule of law be restored.

Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy

Rangoon
3 May 2000