Prograss Report on Sankhlaburi

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Press Release

                                PROGRESS REPORT
                                ===============

At 11.30 am, on the 24th of November 1997, 18 people were arrested in their
organisation's offices at Sangkhlaburi.  A list of their names and
organizations is attached. Among those detained were two boys - 9 and 10
years old - who were attending English class at the PDF office.
After arrest, the detainees were taken to the Sangkhlaburi Town Hlall (Nai
Amphur).  At 2pm, they were transferred to the Border Police Camp. At
approximately 3.30pm, Lt Kyaw Zaw from MI 5 at Three Pagodas Pass, went to
the Nai Arnphur and collected a list of names of those arrested. At about 5
pm, the adult detainees and the two boys were transferred to the
Sangkhlaturi Police Station and all were held in one large room with other
illegal immigrants. 
At the time of the arrests, from the PDF and DPNS offices, Thai Army
personnel confiscated statement files, photographs, books and, from the PDF
office, a machine which prints photographs onto T-shirts. These items were
last seen at the Nai Amphur office. The telephone and fax line to the Alert
Literature Club were cut.
Later on the 24-11-1997, on arrival at the Police Station, all detainees had
their biographies  written, then were photographed individually, in their
groups and as a whole group and videoed.
In the evening of the 24-11-1997, Kyaw Htet, alone, was taken from the cell
to a meeting roorn in the Nai Amphur building. He was asked a number of
questions: name, organisation and if the organisation was pro-armed struggle
or negotiation. Other questions were:
What will you do if you are deported to Burma /Myanmar? Would you like to
return to Burma / Myanmar or go to the Safe Camp? 	
One of the Thai police told all the detainees: This is not a police arrest.
It is an Army arrest. 
On the 25th of November1 1997, the Thai Army contacted the SPDC (contact
point unknown. Presumed to be Three Pagodas Pass) to advise of the arrests.
Thrughout 26-11-1997, three other people - Shwe Thwe, Lu Maw and Aung Htoo,
were taken for questioning. During the evening of 25-11-1997, about 9:20 pm,
a policenman came to the cell and told all detainees to stand. He asked "
Are you Burrna students? Are you the anti-government group? and divided all
detainees into anti-government and illegals. The latter were taken to
another room. At one stage on 25-11-1997, a Thai Army Major was questioning
PDF detainees. A police officer gave the Major a letter and said that many
NGOs had contacted UNHCR. The Major told the police officer " Don't worry".
On the 26th of November 1997, other detainees are being taken, one by one,
into the Nai Amphur meeting room and asked the same questions as Kyaw Htet
was. This is the last definite news.
Food is coming to the detainees from the Thai Army.
Apparently an informer has been asking people on the Mon side of
Sangkhlaburi about Htoo Chit's whereabouts. He is the remaining mernber of
the PDF exective not arrested. A Thai Army Military Inlelligence friend
advised Htoo Chit to leave Sangkhlaburi, but he refused. Naing Tun, DPNS,
also remains unarrested 

Report by People's Defence Force (PDF)

Wednesday, Novennber 26, 1997

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The list of detainees

1. Ko Kyaw Htet         PDF
2. Ko Shwe Thwe         PDF
3. Ko Lu Maw            PDF
4. Ko Aung Htoo         PDF
5. Ko Charlie            DPNS
6. Ko Win Naing         DPNS
7. Ko Nyi Nyi           DPNS
8. Ko Kyaw Naing        DPNS
9. Ko Paw Tun Aung      NLD-LA
10.Ko Aung San Nyunt    NLD-LA
11.U Shein              MDUF
12.Ko Aung Chit         MDUF
13.Ko Than Htite        MUDF
14.Maung Letwae Tun     MDUF (8-year-old)
15.Maung Nyi Nyi Lwin   MDUF (10-year-old)
16.Ko Htet Khaung       Karen History Research
17.Ko Myint Win         Karen History Research
18.Ko Tun Sein          ABSDF 

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