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ABSDF: Military Charges NLD Officia



Media Release
October 1, 1998

Burmese Military Charges NLD Officials under Emergency Act

Burmese military authorities have charged several detained
National League for Democracy (NLD) party officials, despite the
military's claim that the officials had merely been invited to
attend discussions.

On September 14 Min Hla Township Chairman U Kyaw Thaung and
Township Organizing Committee members U Thein Zaw, U Myint Lwin
and U Hlaing Than Myint were charged under the 1950 Emergency
Provision Act. All of them were arrested on September 7. 

U Tun Win, an elected member of Parliament (MP) from Mindon
Constituency, was also charged under the same provision on
September 12.  Another NLD official, Daw Sandy Win, who is in
charge of Magwe Division Women's Affairs, was detained on
September 22 and is now facing trial under the Emergency
Provision Act.     

ABSDF Foreign Affairs Secretary Aung Naing Oo said that the
regime's claim that the NLD members in detention had merely been
invited to attend discussions was a blatant public relations
exercise, designed to woo the international community.

"Contrary to this claim, a number of NLD officials have been
charged under the Emergency Provision Act. Under this Act, the
party members will receive long prison terms. Although the junta
has made no public statement, we believe that many of them have
secretly been sentenced."

The number of NLD members detained since May is now close to
1000. This figure, however, does not include students and
political activists from various other organisations. According
to student sources in Rangoon, the total number of arrests is
nearing 2000.  The arrests are likely to continue following the
formation by the NLD of a 10-member Representative Committee in
order to convene parliament.

In a statement released on September 28, the 10-member Committee
Representing MPs issued a decree repealing some of Burma's most
repressive laws, including the 1950 Emergency Provision Act. For
the last ten years, the military junta has used this legislation
extensively to give long prison terms to hundreds of its
political opponents.

The junta continues to target members of the NLD through ongoing
arrests, searches without warrants and seizure of NLD property. 
In addition, the military has recently formed a specialised squad
of riot police to quell future pro-democracy demonstrations.

All Burma Students' Democratic Front

For more information please contact 01-253 9082, 10-654 4984