Mizzima News

Chiang Mai – The 70-year-old mother of 88 Generation Student leader Aunt Phwe Kyaw arrested for staging protests against the regime has also been arrested and is missing for the past four days, her friends said.

Officials picked up Tin Tin Win from her residence in a Government Housing Complex in Yinkin Township on Thursday afternoon.

Kyi Oo, mother of famous comedian and actor Zarganar, who is also being held in prison, said that she was concerned about Tin Tin Win, who is not in good health.

"She has the usual senile dementia at her age, but has no specific diseases. I used to see her from my house visiting her family doctor. Sometimes she came to our house to take rest on her way back from the clinic. She has no companion staying with her. I don't want to see her die in prison," she said.

It is still not known why she was arrested but political circles speculated that it is likely to be connected with 88 Generation women student activist Nilar Thein's visit to her house just before her arrest.

"She was taken away on Thursday afternoon but is still missing and we still do not know why she was arrested. We can't enquire about it either," one of her friends, who wished to be anonymous, said.

A statement issued by 88 Generation Students today says, "The students ask the government not to torture persons arrested and it must take responsibility for any death or injuries inflicted on these persons".

Most of the leaders of 88 Gen Students are now hiding but are circulating statements to the Burmese community by emails. Mizzima cannot reach them for their comments.

Besides arresting student leaders and monks who took part in the September unrest last year, their family members and close relatives were also arrested by the regime.

Opposition sources said that the authorities arrested at least eight youths including Aung Ko Ko Lwin, younger brother of Gambira, the monk leader of the Saffron Revolution in September last year, living in Meiktila, Mandalay Division on Thursday morning.

It is learnt that their family members are unaware of their fate.

Similarly the local authorities in Rangoon arrested five persons including Moe Htet Lian, husband of Gambira's elder sister Khin Thu Htay from their Dagon satellite town residence in Rangoon on September 9 this year.