E/CN.4/1994/31
page 85
Myanmar
Information transmitted to the Government
399. By letter dated 3 November 1993 the Special Rapporteur advised the
Government that he had received information according to which persons
arrested for political reasons were frequently subjected to torture and
ill-treatment, particularly during interrogation, in the initial phases of
detention. However, prisoners were also said to be beaten and deprived of
food and water if they protested against the conditions of their detention,
which seemed to be extremely poor. Thus, Mr. Aye Lwin, aged 38, a prisoner at
Insein prison, reportedly died from internal injuries sustained in early
December 1992 after being severely beaten by a prison official. Although he
was vomiting blood, he received no medical care and died in his cell. He was
also reported to have been badly beaten during a hunger strike at Insein
prison in 1990, after which time his health reportedly deteriorated.
400. The Special Rapporteur was also informed of the case of Mi Htaw, from Win
Pa Toke village in Thanbyuzayat township, Mon state. She reportedly went to
visit her husband, Nai Sein Aung Kyi, who had been arrested by members of the
State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) Infantry Battalion No. 31 for
having contacts with the New Mon State Party. It was alleged that when she
arrived there, she was repeatedly raped in front of her husband and he was
severely beaten, as a result of which his left hand was broken.
401. Information was also received according to which porters and unpaid
labourers who were arbitrarily seized by the armed forces (tatmadaw) were
often ill-treated or tortured and denied adequate food and medical treatment,
despite the fact that they frequently fell ill owing to the working
conditions. Thus, Maung Nyan Pwa, aged 24, and his father, U Aung Thein,
were reportedly arrested on 10 January 1993 together with about 100 men on the
Zabu Aye boat, in the middle of Jine river, Kawkareik township, by members of
Infantry Battalion No. 97. They were taken to the base of Light Infantry
Battalion No. 201 in Pa-an and were subsequently transferred to the base of
Light Infantry Battalion No. 210 in Hlaing Bwe. Starting in Hlaing Bwe, they
were allegedly forced to carry baskets, each of which weighted 50 kilos. When
they could no longer carry them, they were reportedly beaten and not fed at
all as a punishment. Maung Nyan Pwa was allegedly beaten with bamboo sticks
and his right eyeball and eyelid were smashed. His father was beaten to death
with rifle butts.
Information received from the Government on cases included in previous reports
402. On 12 August 1992 the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal to the
Government on behalf of Maung Nay Yein Kyaw, Maung Tun Tun, Maung Naing Naing,
Maung Soe Naing, U Tin Tun, U Tun Shein and U Swe Tint, reportedly arrested on
8 June 1992 and interrogated at Mi-7 detention centre for several days.
403. On 22 February 1993 the Government replied that Nay Yein Kyaw, Tun Tun,
Naing Naing, Soe Naing, Tin Tun and Tun Sein (Shein) were sentenced to
10 years’ imprisonment on 23 September 1992 for distributing seditious
pamphlets with an intent to disrupt the National Convention. There was no
record of arrest of one "Swe Tint" as alleged.
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