From the Burma Solidarity Group

Burmese Rights Group Seeks Release Of Jailed Rebels

The India-based Burmese Democratic Forces (BDF) Tuesday demanded immediate release of all 34 Burmese ‘freedom fighters’ from Indian jails. They were arrested in February 1998 from the Andaman Islands.

“We demand either the release of Burmese freedom fighters immediately or an expeditious trial. In the meantime, they should be treated with dignity and accorded status of political prisoners,” BDF representative M. Kim told a press conference.

The Indian Army arrested these 34 Myanmarese rebels Feb 8, 1998 from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. They were held on charges of terrorism, dealing in arms and ammunition, and conspiring against the Indian government.

“The arrested people are actually Myanmarese nationalists who were fighting to overthrow the autocratic regime of General Than Shwe,” Kim said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which investigated the case, filed a charge sheet against the arrested Burmese men in 2004.

In October 2006, they were taken to the Presidency Correctional Home in Kolkata from Port Blair after they filed a petition.

The trial was initially held on the jail premises. It began in open court in January 2007, after protests by city intellectuals like Magsaysay award winner Mahasweta Devi and filmmaker Mrinal Sen.

Kim said they were also disheartened that India, which is the largest democracy in the world, was not taking a stand to support democracy in Myanmar.

“We demand that India immediately stop all inter-state commercial relationship with Myanmar till democracy is restored there. We think India should also stop all arms sales and transfer to the military junta in Myanmar,” Kim said.

Kim criticised the Indian government that during the uprising in Myanmar in September last year when the entire country was on the boil, India’s petroleum minister Murli Deora signed a $150 million agreement with Myanmar to enter the oil and gas sector.

“India is hungry for oil and natural gas, and has shifted allegiance to the ruling military generals in Myanmar,” Kim said.

The activists’ organisation also staged a demonstration Feb 4 here with the support of some Kolkata-based human rights organisations.

Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) member Sujato Bhadro said these 34 Myanmarese ethnic rebels should be treated as political prisoners and be given all the facilities that are legally possible.

“These people should be given the facility to read newspapers and books, better food and access to basic amenities. Above all they should be allowed to meet their relatives and friends,” Bhadro said.

Full story available at:
http://newspostindia.com/report-35356

FROM IFEX

Blogger mysteriously missing

The Burmese blogger, Nay Phone Latt, allegedly arrested by the police on 29 January 2008, has mysteriously gone missing, according to his mother, Daw Aye Aye Than.

Daw Aye Aye Than said her son’s whereabouts could not be confirmed as the authorities have denied detaining him.

“We went to the office of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Tingankyun and Thuwana police stations to inquire about him, but all the authorities would tell us was - they don’t know him and he is not here,” Daw Aye Aye Than said.

She said her son left home on that day at about 12:00 p.m. (local time). When the family tried to contact him on his cell phone at about 1:00 p.m., he could not be reached.

“And at around 2:30 p.m. the authorities came to our house but did not ask for Nay Phone Latt. They looked around the house. So I think he must have been arrested before they came to us,” Daw Aye Aye Than told Mizzima.

She added that the police team led by Maj. Hein Htet did not state what they were looking for, but the manner of the search suggested they were looking for someone in hiding.
Daw Aye Aye Than said she is worried for her son and could not understand why he has disappeared.

“I am very sad for this kind of unlawful action, I don’t understand why they (authorities) are doing this to my son because he is not involved in any illegal activities and does all his work openly,” she said.

Nay Phone Latt has a blogsite, http://www.nayphonelatt.blogspot.com. Many of his colleagues believe he has been arrested by police, although there are no eyewitnesses attesting to this.

Some friends said he was taken away from an Internet café in Thingan Kyun township in Rangoon. However, his mother’s version of events appeared to indicate that he was arrested while on the road. Neither version can be independently verified.