February 10 2000

Name : Ko Zar Ni ( a ) Maung Maung Nyut
Date of Birth 1963 Father's name : U Saw Lwin (Myoma Kyaung -Former National school )
Address : Room No. 1, Flat No.98, Midoan street , Thuwanna, Thingangyun Township, Rangoon Division.

There were many leaders in the1988 country-wide uprising . Ko Zar Ni was one of them and actively participated in it.

His father, U Saw Lwin bravely fought for our independence under the British government. After gaining independence, he became a school head master of Myoma - National school and he was well respected by students.

During the 1988 popular upprising , Ko Zar Ni and his comrades Dr. Tin Myo Win ,U Than Myint,and U Maung Ko, set up Supervising Committee for Student movements(SCS ) and led the people.SCS organized all organizations to use the same sologans and state the same. But after the military took the state power against the people's will on 18 September 1988, most of the demonstrators including monks, students, workers and their organizations were destroyed. Five days later , Ko Zar Ni was detained because the miitary regime accused him of motivating the workers to disobey the State Law And Order Restoration Council's order to return to their offices. Soon after Ko Zar Ni was detaind , he was sent to " Ye Kyi Ai "- one of the notorious investigation centers located at the Mingalardoan Township in Rangoon.

When Ko Zar Ni was in that notorious investigation center ( Ye Kyi Ai ) , he was brutally tortured physically as well as mentally. First before being asked anything, he was kicked, hit and slapped cruelley all over the body by a group of men, with truncheon and jungle boots. Later he was kept in poor sanitary conditions. After that he was ordered to stretch out his legs , and a piece of rounded wood was rolled over his shins. Sometimes he was hung by his feet and not allowed to sleep. The worst form of physical torture was electric shock. The military intelligence men placed electrodes on his sexual organ , and then they switched on the current. As a result, he lost consciousness.

On 23 January 1989, Ko Zar Ni was sent to Insein prison, where he faced an unfair trial.

The military regime always opens a special court for political detainees at the entrance of the Insein prison.

Although Ko Zar Ni and his lawyer , the son in law of martyr U Razart , could prove he was not guilty, Ko Zar Ni was sentenced to three years imprisonment including hard labor. "At that day Ko Zar Ni was not able to stand and walk because of being tortured " said the eyewithness, Ma Khin San Nawe. After being sentenced , Ko Zar Ni was sent to the Insein prison hospital.When he was hospitalized, he could hardly manage to take care of himself such as taking showers, chainging clothes, and having meals difficult because of torture.

A few days later, he suffered from paralysis , because of the shortage of medicine and specialists in the Jail hospital.

Despite suffering from paralysis, he was moved to Tharyawaddy prison. His health became so bad that he could not bear the hard situation of the Tharwaddy prison. Then Ko Zar Ni was sent to Tharawaddy General Hospital. Finally when the military intelligence found that his health was not getting better anymore, the military regime released Ko Zar Ni in 1992.

After being released, Ko Zar Ni was hospitalized again at the Hospital for Disabled Persons. While he was in the hospital, Ms. Sadako Ogata, a representative of the human rights comission of the United Nations, came to Burma to inspect the situation of human rights and demanded the SLORC let her meet with Ko Zar Ni. However, he was forced to leave from hospital with fake medical report by the head of the medical officers . Ms. Sadako Ogata did not get a chance to meet with Ko Zar Ni.

Next year, Ms.Sadako Ogata came to Burma again to inspect the situation of human rights. This time, Ko Zar Ni was very unlucky again.

As soon as Ms. Sadako Ogata arrived in Burma, Major Ngwe Soe and the military intelligence visited Ko Zar Ni's home . They asked about Ko Zar Ni's health situation and his opinion on the SLORC, and recorded his voice. The next day, the military intelligence men came to Ko Zar Ni's house again and told him to come along with them.They detained Ko Zar Ni who could not move his body.

He was detained for six days during Ms. sadako Ogata's visit. Now Ko Zar Ni is living under appaling conditions in Burma, and he always has to lie down on his bed because of his health. Sometimes Ko Zar Ni suffer from depression. In order to rise his morale, his comrades visit his house routinely and where the sit with him and chat.

As Ko Zar Ni is a disabled person, he faces many difficulties for his survival. The worst thing is that as his parents are getting older and older, and they are no longer able to help him. At present he feels he is a worthless person and there is no hope for the future.

We hope that his story can partly point out the systematic violation of human rights in Burma. The SAPPB is doing as much as we can to help him, but he needs more assistance than we can give.

Name: Aung Kyaw Moe Alias : Moe Aung
Age: 38 years
Father's name: U Maung Aung
Mother's name: Daw Mu Mu Aung(pass away)
Education: AGTI
Address: No:15, Myananda street, Kamayut township , Rangoon

Ko Aung Kuaw Moe was born on 24th april 1960. He got his AGTIdiploma from government technology institute (Insein). He actively participated in the 1988 country-wide uprising. After the military took power in september 1988, he became an active NLD member. Although he did his political movements peacefully, the military janta arrested him on 20 july 1989.

Ko Aung Kyaw Moe was first sent to the notorious Insein prison and was sentenced to 20 years, inprisonment including hard labor on 10th November 1989 for his involvement in a Political Party (CPB).In 1992 he got parole from the SLORC's amnesty. So his prison term was reduced to 10 years. Through out his time in Insein prison, Ko Aung Kyaw Moe was put in the solitary, confinement cell From 1989to 1996. Then he was transferred to Tharawaddy prison. He was locked in the solitary confinement cell again.

Ko Aung Kyaw Moe was well respected by some warderns and among his comrades because of his honesty and sacrifice. According to the jail manual; every prisoner has the right to parole for atleast 4 days a month of their sentences. The prison authorities then have the right to honor parole for the prisoners. for example: If one is sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labor, one has to stay in prison for 6 years and 8 months if one has no other special case.

Therefore Ko Aung Kyaw Moe had to be released in 1997. But he wasn't released due to order by the military intelligence. The worst thing was he didn't know why he was continuely detained even so his prison term was completed. He had been waiting for his release for many days at No 1 solitary confinement cell.

Finally, on 8 May 1998, Ko Aung Kyaw Moe and his comrades, Ko Kyi , Ko Thein Htoo, Ko Myint Yi, Ko Kyaw Oo, Ko Thein Zaw and U Aung Than made up their minds to fight against injustic and unjust oppression.

Therefore they demanded the prison autorities to release the political prisoners whose prison terms were over at once. Otherwise they would sit in a hunger strike until they were released. The prison authorities ignored the strikers' demands instead shackling the demonstrators and denying them drinking water. In Burma , May is too hot.

The next day' the authorities came to their solitary confinement cells again and they threatened Ko Aung Kyaw Moe to give up the hunger strike. After U Aung Than was threatened by the authorities , U Aung Than gave up.

Then the demonstrators were divided into dfferent cells which had no prisoners sothat when they tortured the strikers, no one could see. During the strike period, the prison supreme officer, U Win Myint ordered Ko Aung Kyaw Moe to sit( poun-san which in Burmese means model, literally translated.)

"Standing on tip-toes with the knees bent at 45 degrees, a straight back and hands clasped behind the head with the face raised up. This position is used for punishment. The prisoners were always beaten and kicked under this position."

Because of being heavily tortured and the extremely hot climate, every striker except Ko Aung Kyaw Moe lost consciousness and were forced to transfer different prisons. U Win Myint gave a last waming Ko Aung Kyaw Moe to give up. But how brave Ko Aung Moe was!

"I couldn't listen non sense of yours. I will fight until I die."

U Win Myint was angry when he heard Ko Aung Kyaw Moe's words. Therefore U Win MYint beat Ko Aung Kyaw Moe very severely for nearly one hour. Ofcourse, he has no right to beat a hunger striker according to the law. On 13 May 1998,Ko Aung Kyaw Moe suffered from thirst, extreme weakness, and torment because of his hunger strike and heavy tortured.As a result, KoAung Kyaw Moe died on tne same day 13 may 1998.

If we analyze Ko Aung Kyaw Moe's death, we can clearly see ,the following: Inhumane, human rights violations, torture, wicked.

Why did the military junta kill Ko Aung Kyaw Moe, who asked peacefully his rights according to the law ?

The authorities didn't let Ko Aung Kyaw Mmoe's family know the true reason of his death. The prison supreme officer , U Win Myint, told his family that KO Aung K yaw Moe died of disease.

Then he showed thephoto of Ko Aung Kyaw Moe's corpse. By the time his family saw the photo, they noticed that there were injuries in Ko Aung's face. the authority took back the photo. this tragic story has occurred under the rule of the Burmese military junta. Ko Aung Kyaw Moe's story points out the military's refusal to respect even the most basic rights of the people, as well as the right of the political prisoners.

(Activating Committee) Safeguard Association of Political Prisoners in Burma