Apart from the safety and security of Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel laureatte, the continued detention of one of her close aides Dr. Than Nyein has become a cause for increasing concern. The 67-year old Than, who like her was elected to the Parliament on the National League for
Democracy (NLD) only to find himself in the Rangoon jail, is suffering from liver cirrhosis.
Like a true Gandhian, he has been on hunger strike in recent months against his detention. And his protests have resulted in his transfer to Paung-de prison, which is far worse than Rangoon prison.
It was in July 1997 that Than Nyein and seven other NLD leaders were sentenced to seven years in prison for organising Aung San Suu Kyi's political tours and for reorganizing the party's youth wing in Mayangon Township in Rangoon Division. One of them, Khin Maung Myint died in
Kalay Prison as he was given a wrong vaccination.
Early this September, Than Nyein went on a hunger strike. That was the only protest he knew as a weapon in his armory when he was told that his jail term had been extended by 60-more days. On 19th September, the fasting doctor was shifted to Thayawaddy prison, 78 miles north of Rangoon. Seven days later, the authorities told his wife that he was brought back to Rangoon and admitted to hospital as he complained of back pain and some liver ailment. "There are no facilities for regular medical check up at Thayawaddy prison and so we moved him back", they
told her.
Simultaneously Khin Aye received a message from her husband: " I cannot afford to tolerate the regime's unjustice treatment. So I decided to go on a hunger strike. My health is also deteriorating. I don't know whether I can survive if I remain in prison".
Under the 1975 State Protection Act in force across Burma ( Myanmar for the Junta) officials are allowed to detain any one for several years without trial. Than's new detention, it is said was only for sixty days and by that reckoning it should have been over on November 20. But his
ordeal continues with no relief in sight.
Yet, surprisingly, the military regime says it would free 5,311 prisoners on top of the 3,937 announced on November 18, according to a state radio broadcast. It must be said to the regime's credit that it has 'granted' freedom to several detainees. That number is put at a respectable 9,248 by the jail department officials as on November 25. They are however quite on how many of them are freedom fighters. Based on my sources in Rangoon, I believe only 40 of these lucky few are political prisoners.
In so far as Than Nyein is concerned, he has not seen the dawn outside the jail. In fact, on November 24, he was again moved to a new jail Paung-de Prison, which is not far away from Thayawaddy Prison. Reason? Well, he had threatened to undertake another long hunger strike from November 26.
Obviously, the junta did not want him to be in Rangoon on fast and offea media event. What better way is there than shifting him to a far off place. Frankly such 'transfers' donot pull the curtain down on news'. In fact, such acts increase the apetite for details and the underground becomes hyper active.
Than Nyein's wife Khin Aye said, he suffers from a gastric ulcer and hypertension. According to her information, his liver condition is worsening and he requires urgent medical attention. But who cares in todays' Burma despite the fact that Than Nyein is highly connected. He is the brother-in-law of ousted Prime Minister Gen, Khin Nyunt. His younger sister, also a doctor, Khin Win Shwe married to Nyunt.
Not only Than Nyein's detention of several other political leaders has been extended for long periods. For instance, Aung San Suu Kyi, who is held under arrest since May 2003, has been told that she will be held in communicado for another 12 months.
The junta takes vicarious pleasure in prolonged sentence for political activists. There is no obectivity. It is all pure and unadulterated subjectivity. The arbitrary detentions are facilitiated under Article 10 (A) of the State Protection Act. There are scores of prisoners of conscience detained under this provision long after their initial jail term was over. Many of them are sufferring from health problems and it has been a matter of grate anxity to the Burmese champions of democracy living in exile.
By a rough reckoning, a hundred political prisoners of consciousness have died in the Junta Prisons due to the inhuman conditions in which they are forced to live. Torture - mental and physical- is a norm not an exception in Burmese prisons. will the present military authorities
take responsibility for these tragedies.
The Junta's strong man, Senior General Than Shwe has recently ( October 22, 2004) disbanded the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) holding it responsible for all the wrong doings. While requiem for NIB is welcome, it doesn't absolve the Junta leadership of their responsibility more
since the axe on NIB was a part of the purge after the sacking of Prime Minister Khin Nyunt.
To revert back to Than Nyein's case, his detention when there is grave threat to his life from liver disorders is a far more serious crime than mere holding of prisoners of consciousness. He should be released. So are others including other political prisoners. Then only Burma can hope to return to the path of democracy.
The London based Human Rights Group, Amnesty International, has been making this demand for long. Its message is simple but loud and clear to the Junta: "Release unconditionally and immediately Aung San Suu Kyi and other peaceful political activists being held under a law which allows the junta to detain anyone without taking them to court".
Is there any one out there in Rangoon listening to the call? Or this plea like that of the Burmese in exile will go in vain?
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