Continuing with its cat and mouse game with the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) the Burmese junta released Kachin leader Labang Gam Awng at midnight on Monday.
He was detained for a day in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State, northern Burma, said a source close to the youth leader.
The youth leader of the Kachin Nationals Consultative Assembly (KNCA), which represents all Kachin youths in military-ruled Burma, was arrested on Sunday midnight from his home in N’Jang Dung, three miles north of Myitkyina and detained in the Northern Regional Command Headquarters (Ma-Pa-Kha) in Myitkyina.
He was released on Monday midnight. However 50 other young people, mostly members of Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) are still in detention in the Northern Command.
During his short detention, Gam Awng was interrogated by military intelligence. On the cards were two major questions. One, regarding the April 17 serial bomb blasts in Irrawaddy Myitsone dam site and second, information was sought on anti-dam activists in the capital.
Gam Awng was a Vice Secretary No. 2 of Manau Festival Acting Committee in the annual Kachin Cultural Manau Festival marking the 62nd anniversary of Kachin State Day in Myitkyina from January 5 to 11, this year.
Now, over 60 members of the Education and Economy Development for Youth (EEDY), the youth-wing of the KIO are held in No. 1 Police Station. They are being interrogated and tortured by investigators over the Myitsone blasts, said sources close to the detainees.
However, there have been no fresh arrests of Kachin youths in Kachin’s capital for four straight days since May 23, according to local residents.
The junta has launched a campaign on the arrest of civilian suspects, anti-dam activists and dozens of KIO youths after the serial bomb blasts in Myitsone dam project.
Analysts link the junta’s fresh high handed behavior to stepping up pressure on the KIO to accept its proposed Border Guard Force (BGF).
The KIO has consistently refused to accept the proposal after 13 meetings. Locals believe that the serial blasts were triggered by the regime to not only pressurize the KIO but also force people near the dam site to relocate.
Rampant arrests, interrogation and torture of villagers and KIO youths over the bomb blasts have created fear psychosis among the people, a situation which suits the junta to get its way on the hydropower project.
