Appendix 11

I participated in the December 1996 student strike at Rangoon University. The authorities tried to arrest me, but I evaded capture. I was part of a group of students who met to re-establish the Rangoon University Student Union in 1996 and again in 1998. I was among 22 people who met to re-set up the Student Union around February 1997.
I participated in the 1998 student strike and demonstration and supported the Committee Representing the People’s Parliament (CRPP). We talked about making a yellow poster with the slogan “We Support CRPP” on it, although we never made it. However, I was charged with making the flag and using it at a demonstration. This was a peacock flag the MI had documented in 1998, but I had never made a flag and in fact wasn’t even at the demonstration in the downtown area, where they had seen the flag. I was at the demonstration at Hledan junction near Rangoon University, and MI identified me using video surveillance.
When they arrested me in 1998 MI didn't know about my participation in 1996 because I had used a different name then - they found out that part after my arrest. I was held in detention in Insien during the pre-trial period and I was not allowed any visits before my trial.
I was sentenced to 14 years – seven years under Article 5(J)and seven years under 17/20, Printers and Publishers act. The four other people I was tried with all received 14 years.
When I arrived and was first processed at Insein Prison, the prison officer told me my sentence was 21 years. When I explained that my sentence had been 14 years at the court, they told me according to their warrant my sentence was 21 years. There was nothing I could do. When I was transferred to Shwebo Prison after six months, at Shwebo my sentence was also recorded as 21 years.
After I was imprisoned it was one month before I saw my family.
A normal day at Shwebo Prison went like this. The prison opened at 6:00 am, but I normally got up around 4:00 am to do my Buddhist prayers. As soon as the prison was open we would be given some rice yogurt. At 9:00 am we were offered a ration of rice. From 9:00 am to noon I would read religious books or meditate; sometimes, I would take a rest. I was allowed to walk around in the cell compound from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm, but from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm the prison closed and we had to stay in our cells. The prison reopened at 2:00 pm and we were offered dinner at 3:00 pm. I would take a bath at 4:00 pm every day. I was allowed a bowl of water and allowed to walk. At 6:00 pm we were closed inside our cells. I would do some meditation and religious reading. Sometimes I would chat with my friend. At 9:00 pm we went to bed. Sometimes after this we would read or chat, but when the wardens were around we had to sleep.
I wasn’t allowed to read English books in prison. I was allowed to read only religious books in Burmese. The MI wanted my brain to become rusty from disuse.
When I first arrived I could only take a bath once every three days due to the water shortage - it was very hot in Shwebo. I was allowed one bath a day when I made a request to the superintendent, and also after ICRC started to visit the prison. One month before ICRC came I was allowed a daily bath.
Normally there was enough water for drinking, but sometimes, though very rarely, when there was a drought there was no water and we could only take a bath once in 10 days.
The prison authorities and other prisoners were never physically violent towards me. I never received a beating, although I was constantly sworn at by prison authorities. Female wardens swore at me as if I was a criminal, calling me a prostitute, whore, and so on.
The superintendent and the prison officers did not treat political prisoners very bad because male officers did not come to the female ward often - but female wardens were very bad. They treated female political prisoners the same as criminals and did not want to recognise us as political prisoners. These female wardens were very rude. There was no physical contact, but I was threatened by a warden when I demanded my rights. She said that she would slap my face and quit her job. This female warden did not like me, as she thought I was very proud.
In Shwebo prison all political prisoners were brought boiled beef every Wednesday. Some people could not eat beef, but the prison authorities did not offer them anything to replace it. When ICRC visited Shwebo prison the people who didn’t eat beef informed ICRC, and after that they were offered eggs instead; however, they were yelled at and threatened for talking to ICRC. I was also yelled at. I was woken in the middle of the night by the warden, who swore at me, asking me why I had informed ICRC about the beef and caused trouble.
Normal prisoners were not allowed to make requests and no one was allowed to say anything to ICRC. Prison authorities threatened criminal prisoners that they would receive 35 beatings if they told ICRC the true conditions of the prison. Because political prisoners did speak to ICRC freely, criminals would ask the political prisoners to talk to ICRC on their behalf.
Because there were only two female political prisoners in Shwebo, we were put alone on a cellblock. This cellblock was believed to be haunted, so the wardens and guards never wanted to come to our area. Later, when my friend was released in 2002, I slept alone in that cellblock for seven months. I became very isolated and lonely from lack of human contact.
I will not participate in political activities inside Burma because I am afraid of being arrested. I am afraid of being rearrested. MI doesn’t release anyone after they arrest them. Section 401(1) will stop people because of the threat.
Even if I hadn’t signed I would still have been scared of being rearrested, because anyone who has been in prison for their political activities will always be a political prisoner. Before I fled Burma I had some contact inside Shwebo prison. I sent some books and political news, and MI found out that someone had sent them and questioned the prisoner who received them. I think section 401(1) is a big threat to political prisoners who sign. I would be rearrested and have to serve an extra 16 yrs and 6 months on top of the sentence I received because of it. Two people were released at the same time as me and they both signed it as well.