A-Infos (en) BURMESE MILITARY SENTENCES STUDENTS TO DEATH

[Caroline Lurie <lurie@mozart.inet.co.th>]

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   ## Forwarded Message follows ##
   ## From: Caroline Lurie   (lurie@mozart.inet.co.th)
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Media Release
Date: April 29, 1998


             BURMESE MILITARY SENTENCES STUDENTS TO DEATH, 
            OTHERS SENTENCED IN CONNECTION WITH DE SOTO VISIT

In early April this year the State Peace and Development Council
(SPDC) handed down death sentences to two student activists who
were accused of subversive activities including an alleged plot
to assassinate SPDC leaders.

The two student activists, Ko Thein (a.k.a. Thein Htun) and Khin
Hlaing, were part of a group of about 40 people arrested in
connection with the alleged plot and other political offenses in
January 1998. None of the 40 accused were allowed legal
representation and the sentences were handed down by a judge at
the Special Court located opposite Insein Prison in Rangoon.

Ko Thein was accused of being an ABSDF agent and he and Khin
Hlaing were both given the death penalty. People who are handed
the death penalty in Burma are usually hanged. In the judgement
the two were also each given a 14-year prison sentence.

The other 38 people arrested in January received from three to 14
years imprisonment. Set Aung Naing, a leader of the All Burma
Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU), was imprisoned for 14 years
for allegedly working for the Communist Party of Burma (CPB) and
carrying out destructive actions against the State. A group of
those arrested were sentenced from three to seven years for
having contact with Set Aung Naing. They are Aung Kyaw Hein, Thet
Naing Oo, Nay Lin Soe, Htun Htun Win and Aung Latt.

Among those sentenced to 14 years imprisonment are U Mya Han
(a.k.a. U Myint Han), Naing Aung (a.k.a. Fighter Aung), Letya
Htun, Aung Din, U Han Win, Daw Khin Myint and Naw Deisar.

According to former political prisoner Moe Aye, the 40 activists
were only engaged in political defiance activities. He says Set
Aung Naing, Aung Kyaw Hein and Nay Lin Soe were arrested for
attempting to contact UN Special Envoy De Soto during his visit
to Burma.

"So far as I can tell, these people were arrested not for
subversive actions but for their attempt to hand over a letter to
De Soto during his Burma visit," said Moe Aye. "The letter
contained accounts and records detailing human rights abuses
committed by the military."

According to sources, the SPDC detained more 100 politicians,
students and political activists in January this year and accused
them of involvement in various illegal activities at a press
conference on 1 March 1998. An unknown number of those arrested
remain in prison awaiting sentencing.

All Burma Students' Democratic Front

For more information please call 01-654 4984. 

E-mail: lurie@mozart.inet.co.th
        caroline@ksc15.th.com

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