Fears For Life Of Political Prisoner

Press Release: Terry Evans

20 January 2009

Political prisoner Zaw Naing Htwe is in danger of losing his life at Four Mile Labour Camp near Taungoo Town in Pegu Division, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma).  He is currently being held in iron shackles whilst being forced to perform hard labour by the authorities.  He is not being given enough food and water.

On 15 December 2008 he was sentenced to 9 years in prison, charged under sections 41/b and 42 of the prisons procedural code, related to exchanging correspondence in prison.  He received a letter from his elder brother, 88 Generation Students Group member Kyaw Kyaw Htwe aka Marky, on 2 February 2008 during a prison visit.

In the first week of January 2009 Zaw Naing Htwe was transferred to Four Mile Labour Camp, 175 miles from Taungoo Town in Pegu Division. 

Tate Naing, Secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), said, “When the regime transfers political prisoners to labour camps, they are intentionally trying to kill them.  There is little chance that political prisoners will return home after being in the labour camps.”

In 2008, at least 17 political prisoners were transferred to labour camps around Burma.  Many monks participated in the boycott, pattam nikkujjana kamma or “overturning the bowl”, refusing to accept alms from members of the armed forces and their families.  As punishment some were transferred to labour camps, 19 monks died in the camps.

Ends

© Scoop Media