NLD REPRESENTATIVE GIVEN 25 YEARS F

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Media Release
Date: 21 April 1998


       NLD REPRESENTATIVE GIVEN 25 YEARS FOR DOING MEDIA INTERVIEW


The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) sentenced Daw San
San, an elected representative of the National League for
Democracy (NLD) from Seikkan Constituency in Rangoon, to 25 years
imprisonment earlier this month for being interviewed by
international media on June 26, 1997.

Daw San San was arrested on 28 October 1997 for doing an
interview with the Burmese Programme of the British Broadcasting
Corporation (BBC). In the interview Daw San San was critical of
the military regime.

The regime arrested and detained Daw San San under Section 10(a)
of the 1975 State Protection Act, but in April this year reliable
sources in Rangoon say she was charged under the 1923 Official
Secrets Act and sentenced to 25 years.  

Daw San San was detained along with Members of Parliament Dr.
Than Nyein and Dr. May Win Myint of the NLD, as well as five
other NLD members. All detainees, including Daw San San, were
each given 6 year imprisonment under Section 5(j) of the 1950
Emergency Provision Act each on 10 December 1997. 

The SPDC, however, singled out Daw San San and attempted to force
her to promise to end her political activities. When she refused
to comply with the demand, she was then charged under the
Official Secrets Act for doing the interview with the BBC and her
prison sentence was increased to 25 years. According to sources,
no one has been allowed to see her since her heavy sentencing.   

Daw San San was first arrested in November 1990 and was sentenced
to 20 years imprisonment under Penal Code Section 122, or 'high
treason'. However, she was released on 1 May 1992 during an
amnesty. Since her first detention, the military regime dismissed
her as a Member of Parliament and banned her from contesting any
future election.

Daw San San actively participated in the 1988 uprising as the
head of a workers' union while she was employed at the Department
of Labour. As a result of her actions she was dismissed from her
position as the department's deputy-director.   

All Burma Students' Democratic Front

For more information please call 375 0479.