Burmese opposition member dies in p

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Subject: Burmese opposition member dies in prison 

World: Asia-Pacific

Burmese opposition member dies in prison



The Burmese government has announced the death in prison of a member of the
National League for Democracy.

The government said the man, U Hla Khin, who was forty-three, committed
suicide in his cell in Insein prison two days ago.

It described him as a long-term alcoholic.

But the Deputy Chairman of the NLD, U Tin Oo, told the BBC that his party
held the government responsible for the death.

He said there were other cases in which prisoners had died just days after
being released from prison. U Tin Oo said an elected NLD representative and
retired Colonel, Tin Ko Ko, who was released from prison several months ago
after a long period of detention, had also died recently. The Burmese
military government has imprisoned hundreds of officials and members of the
NLD, although some have later been released.

>From the newsroom of the BBC World Service