January 27,2003

In the last nine months of 2002, 15 political prisoners disappeared from various prisons in Burma where they were being detained. At least seven, and possibly all 15 are feared to of been killed after being removed from prison by military authorities. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) calls on the SPDC to begin immediate investigations into these disappearances, and to allow other international organizations, such as UN bodies, Amnesty International and concerned foreign governments, unimpeded access to conduct their own independent investigations into these cases.

Several of these cases refer to prisoners deported by the Royal Thai Government (RTG) and therefore we also strongly urge that the RTG cease all deportations to Burma until such time as a proper screening process is in place to protect persons of concern from miscarriages of justice at the hands of the SPDC.

As it remains extremely difficult to collect information from prisons inside Burma, there is no way to know how many cases of disappearance of political prisoners have occurred in the past 15 years. What is known is that in Burma the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) maintains an extensive network of Military Intelligence agents (MIs), police and government officials ready to arbitrarily detain anyone suspected of associating with groups seen as anti-government.

Seven Political Prisoners Disappear

In November 1992 nine members of the Myeik-Dawei United Front, an opposition group based on the Thai/ Burma border, were arrested when they attempted to re-enter Southern Burma to collect information and organize area residents. The nine opposition members were arrested in Kyeini Taung village, Bokepyin Township, Tensserim Division, by Major Tun Aung Kyaw and other members of the Burma Army Infantry Battalion (IB) 432. After their arrest the prisoners were taken to the IB 432 military base where they were subjected to interrogation and torture. From the military base the detainees were sent to Mergui Prison, in Tenasserim Division. Here they were subjected to further torture and mistreatment, including being forced to stand for long periods of time with an iron rod placed horizontally between their shackled legs, and being kept in cells measuring only 8 x 12 ft, for two years. At no time during the almost 8 years that they spent in detention, were any of these individuals formally charged with any crime, or given a trial. In addition, those detained were also denied any contact with their families or with representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross.

In April 2001 two of the original nine detainees were released. On 25 March 2002, at 8pm the remaining seven prisoners were removed from Mergui Prison by Major Soe Hlaing of IB 265. Inside sources report that the prisoners were taken to an undisclosed location on Done Kyun Island, located in Kyun Su Township, Tenasserim Division. At present the whereabouts and condition of these seven political prisoners remains unknown. Before they were taken from Mergui Prison the detainees were reported to be in poor health as a result of the physical and psychological torture that they had been subjected to, and the poor living conditions in the prison. AAPP has received some unconfirmed reports that these seven prisoners were executed upon arrival at 'Done Island'.

The seven political prisoners who have disappeared from Mergui prison include:

1) Name: Ko Khin Maung Cho
Age: 39
Father's name: U Ba Tun
Mother's name: Daw Kyi
Address: Ka Htee Village, Thayetchaung Township, Tenasserim Division.

2) Name: Ko Shwe Baw
Age: 35
Father's name: U Nyan Linn
Mother's name: Daw Than kyi
Address: Kinshaeyart village, Tavoy township, Tenasserim Division
3) Name: Ko Tin San
Age: 30
Father's name: U Moe Aye
Mother's name: Daw Ma Oaut
Address: Chaungwapyin village, Tavoy township, Tenasserim Division
.
4) Name: Ko Naing Oo (alias) Aung Naing
Age: 31
Father's name: U Thaung Si
Mother's name: Daw Ma Ma
Address: Taung Pyaut village, Thayet Chaung township, Tenasserim Division

5) Name: Ko Kyaw Naing (alias) Kyaw Lwin
DOB: Born in 1970
Father's name: U Chit Aye
Mother's name: Daw Hla Thein
Address: Peinnaltaw village, Tavoy township, Tenasserim Division

6) Name: Ko Than Zaw
Date of Birth: Born in 1971
Father's name: (U) Kyaw Shwe
Mother's name: (Daw) Than
Address: Goannyinseik village, Thayet Chaung township, Tenasserim Division

7) Name: Onh Lwin
DOB: Born in 1961
Father's name: U Tun Ye
Mother's name: Daw Ngwe Kyi
Address: Winkabaw village, Tenasserim Division

Two Political Prisoners Disappear from Kawthaung Prison

In February 2002 seven members of the Thayetchaung branch of the National League for Democracy (NLD) were arrested as a result of their political activities. The arrests took place in Ngapyaw Or village, in the western part of Zar Dead Gyi Island, Tenasserim Division. The NLD members were reportedly subjected to severe torture in detention before being sent to Kawthaung prison. In the first weeks of July 2002 two of the seven prisoners, Cho Lwin (alias Ma Lwin) and Kyaw Aye were taken from Kawthaung prison by soldiers from IB 262 and IB 267 led by Captain Tin Maung Win. Cho Lwin and Kyaw Aye were reportedly taken to Ngapyaw Or Village, Zar Dead Gyi Island.

1) Name: Cho Lwin (alas) Ma Lwin (Female)
Age: 30
Organization: NLD member
Address: Hsidek Village, Thayetchaung Township, Tenasserim Division
Date of arrest: February, 2002
Date of disappearance: July,2002

2) Name: Kyaw Aye
Age: 21
Organization: NLD Member
Address: Thakyentaw Village, Longlon Township, Tenasserim Division
Date of arrest: February,2002
Date of Disappearance: July, 2002

Four Political Prisoners Disappear from Kawthaung Prison

On 17 September 2002, Sergeant Thein Myint, the commander of IB 224 and IB 262, took four other political prisoners from Kawthaung Prison and reportedly brought them to Makyonkalit Village, Lam Pake Island, Tenasserim Division.

Three of these prisoners, Tin Tun, Kyaw Lwin and Maung Swe (alias Bike Pu), had previously been arrested in Thailand by Thai police while traveling by boat to Ranong. After their arrest Thai authorities deported them directly back to the military authorities of IB 262. As all three were members of political opposition groups they were arrested and sent to Kawthaung Prison.

Two other opposition group members, San Lwin and Kyaw Naing Soe were picked up separately by Thai police in Ranong. After being detained for six days at the Ranong police station, Thai authorities handed San Lwin and Kyaw Naing Soe directly over to Sergeant Tin Saw from IB
262. Both men were then sent to Kawthaung Prison. Later in 2002 San Naing (alias) San Lwin was transferred to Insein prison.

The fate of the four other prisoners who were taken from Kawthaung Prison to Makyonkalit Village, Lam Pake Island is not known. Family members of the prisoners have confirmed that they have had no access to their relatives since they were taken from Kawthaung Prison.

Those Prisoners missing from Kawthaung Prison include:

Name: Kyaw Naing Soe
Age: 26
Organization: MDUF
Mothers name:(Daw) Hlwae
Address: : Kywechan Village, Tavoy Township, Tenasserim Division

Name: Tin Tun
Organization: ABSDF
Address: Tavoy Township, Tenasserim Division

Name: Maung Shwe (alias) Bike Pu
Organization: MDUF
Address: Tavoy Township, Tenasserim Division

Name: Kyaw Myint
Organization: MDUF
Address: Tavoy Township, Tenasserim Division

Two Men Disappear Following Arrest by Military Intelligence

On September 9, 2002, a farmer, Thinn Pe, was arrested by members of Military Intelligence (MI) Unit 19, in Kangal Ward, Mergui, Tenasserim Division. Despite the fact that Thinn Pe is not known to have any political affiliations, he was charged with having contacted members of political opposition groups. Since the time he was taken into custody by members of MI 19, Thinn Pe's whereabouts remain unknown. Another farmer, Ba Sein, was also arrested.

Name: : Thinn Pe
Age: : 30 Years
Address: : Win Kapaw Village, Mergui, Tenasserim Division
Father's Name: : U Nyan Pe
Mother's Name: : Daw Kyaing
Nationality: : Burmese
Occupation: : Farm-hand
Place of arrested: : Kangal ward, Mergui
Date of arrested: : September 9, 2002
Arrested by: : MI 19

Name: : Ba Sein
Age: : 27 Years
Address: : Sawphyar Village, Mergui, Tenasserim Division
Father's Name: : U Soe Kyi
Mother's Name: : Daw Ah Tin
Nationality: : Burmese
Occupation: : Farmer
Place of arrested: : Dawaisuu ward, Mergui
Date of arrested: : September 9, 2002
Arrest by: : MI 19

Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)