E/CN.4/1991/17 page 38 arrested in the country in recent months on political grounds were often subjected to ill-treatment or torture and fears have, therefore, been expressed that the above-mentioned persons are in danger of being ill-treated or tortured. 122. On 10 October 1990 the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal to the Government of Myanmar concerning the following seven persons: Kyi Hla, aged 43, Information Officer of the National League for Democracy (NLD), arrested on 20 September 1990 for publishing anti-Government propaganda; Kyi Win, aged 32, Ye Naing, aged 23, and Ngwe Oo, aged 20, leaders of the Democratic Party for a new society (DPNS), arrested on 12 September 1990 in Kayan Township for possessing anti-Government pamphlets; Seing Hlaing, aged 35, Myo Myint Nyein, aged 38, and Nyan Paw, aged 36, arrested on 9, 12 and 13 September 1990 respectively, for organizing youths and students to create instability in Yangon and for preparing, planning and publishing an anti-Government publication. It was further alleged that persons arrested in the country in recent months on political grounds were often subjected to ill-treatment or torture and fears have, therefore, been expressed that the above-mentioned persons are in danger of being ill-treated or tortured. 123. On 19 October 1990 the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal to the Government of Myanmar concerning U Mating Maung Lay Ngwe, aged 40, an organizer of the National League for Democracy in Yenangyaung, who was arrested on 6 September 1990, reportedly for writing and publicly distributing documents criticizing the Government. Political prisoners who were recently released and refugees who fled Myanmar alleged that political prisoners are often subjected to torture and ill-treatment, and fears were therefore expressed that U Maung Maung Lay Ngwe is at risk of being tortured while detained. 124. On 29 November 1990 the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal to the Government of Myanmar concerning Khin Maung Swe, Chan Aye, Soe Thein, Kyaw Min, Tin Htut, Aung Khin Sint, Sein Hla Oo, Moe Saw U, U Naing Naing, Hla Than, Tin Maung Win, Kyi Aye, Yan Aung, Myint Soe, Than Htaik, Ko Ko Gyi. All the above-mentioned persons are said to be activists or members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) or leaders of the Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS), who were arrested by the State Law and Order Restoration Council between 23 and 31 October 1990. The Special Rapporteur's attention has also been drawn to the cases of U Laba alias U Wayama, U Kokkhana, Shin Wiseiktha, Shin Yarzeinda and Y Pyin Nya Wuntha, all of them Buddhist monks who were reportedly detained by security forces following a demonstration in Mandalay on 8 August 1990. The Special Rapporteur was also informed that Maung Ko, aged 52, a senior NLD Member, died in a military detention centre north of Yangon, approximately two weeks after being detained. It was reported that the cause of death was suicide, but family members alleged that Maung Ko's body was covered in bruises and that one leg was broken. It was further reported that the military was moving political prisoners from the Myanmar main prison at Insein to detention centres outside Yangon. In that connection, fears were expressed that persons detained in centres outside Yangon may be at a greater risk of torture or ill-treatment by interrogators and warders. In the light of these allegations fears have been expressed that the above-mentioned persons may be tortured while being held in detention.