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NLD party worker beaten to death during interrogation |
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Phanida
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Thursday, 08 May 2008 14:24 |
Ko Ohn Kyaw, an Organizing Committee member of the National League for Democracy of Rangoon Division, Dawbon Township was bludgeoned to death in the Insein prison after the prison precincts caught fire when cyclone Nargis lashed Burma. Ko Ohn Kyaw was accused of organizing a jailbreak and was beaten to death during rigorous interrogation.
The Insein prison Ward No. 1 caught fire even as the cyclone raged in Rangoon on Saturday morning. The prison guards opened fire when inmates tried to escape the flames and a brawl ensued between the two sides. About 36 prisoners were shot dead while 70 were injured.
Below is an interview with Ko Nyo Ohn Myint, in-charge of Foreign Affairs NLD-Liberated Area, by Mizzima.
Q. Tell us how a NLD party worker died when the Insein prison caught fire?
A. We learnt about it when one of my colleagues made a prison visit. When the prison caught fire, the roof was ripped off. When the prisoners tried to escape from their ward, the guards opened fire and some of them died. Our party worker was one of them.
Q. How did he die? Did he receive a gunshot wound?
A. No, he was not shot dead. He was accused of organizing the jailbreak and beaten to death during interrogation.
Q. How many people died during the interrogation?
A. The prison authorities accused four prisoners of leading the jailbreak through the open roof. They were tortured during the interrogation conducted outside the jail premises. The jail authorities accused the prisoners of trying to organize a jailbreak during the devastating storm. The prison officials beat him to death. We learnt of it when the authorities informed his family.
Q. Can you tell us the age and designation of the NLD party worker?
A. He was from Dawbone Township and was a NLD Organizing Committee member. We don't know his age.
Q. When was he arrested?
A. He was arrested in connection with the 2007 September unrest. Many NLD party workers were arrested during and after the September Revolution. And then the authorities charged some of them and put them on trial. Later they were sentenced to various prison terms. Ko Ohn Kyaw was one of them. The rest were later
released.
Q. With what cases was he charged?
A. He was charged with cases under section 5(j) of 1950 Emergency Provisions Act and under section 17(1) of Unlawful Associations Act. The most probable charge may have been instigating people and creating unrest during the September Revolution.
Q. What will the authorities do with his mortal remains?
A. As far as we know, the prison authorities informed his family about his death during the interrogation. We don't know clearly what they will do with his mortal remains.
Q. Tell us how the prison caught fire?
A. On Saturday, the prison roof was ripped off when the devastating cyclone hit the prison. Then the authorities ordered inmates to move to another place. The prisoners tried to build a fire to warm themselves during the heavy rain and devastating storm as they were shivering. Then the prison ward caught fire. The
prison guards opened fire when the prisoners tried to flee from the fire through the open roof. Some fell to the ground form the rooftop and died. Next morning, they took four prisoners for interrogation accusing them of masterminding the jailbreak. They were beaten mercilessly during the interrogation.
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