Chiang Mai – A human rights activist under detention was produced before court yesterday, but family members are worried as they were not allowed to meet with her.
Suu Suu Nwe is in Insein prison and facing trial at Rangoon's West District Court. It has been two weeks since family members were last permitted to meet with her.
"She appeared before the court yesterday and was again remanded. Only the lawyers were allowed to enter the courtroom. We've not met with her for two weeks. Why didn't the authorities allow us to meet with her? There was no official announcement of such a ban. However, she is reportedly no longer being held in solitary confinement," her elder sister Htay Htay Kyi said.
"We are worried about her health as she is suffering from a heart ailment. She will have anxiety when she is not allowed to meet with us. The authorities are giving trouble not only to prisoners but also to their family members," she added.
Suu Suu Nwe, a member of the opposition party National League for Democracy, was banned from meeting with family members and receiving food parcels from the 2nd to 15th of last month for allegedly violating prison rules.
She was arrested on the 14th of November 2007 while hanging an anti-government banner in front of Mya Yeik Nyo Hotel in Rangoon. She was later charged under sections 143 and 147 (unlawful assembly), 505 (b) (inducing crime against public tranquility) and 124(a) (disaffection towards State) of the Criminal Code.
Yesterday the court also examined prosecution witnesses in another political case, that of Hanny Oo
The government has accused final year law student Hanny Oo (21) of being the mastermind behind a protest against a fuel price hike and subsequent rising commodity prices which was staged in front of Yuzana Plaza in Rangoon in September 2007.
She has been charged under sections 124 (a) (disaffection towards State), 505 (b) (inducing crime against public tranquility) and 143 and 145 (unlawful assembly) of the Criminal Code. Additionally she is confronted with a charge related to section 6 of the Registration of Organizations Act.
Family members of Hanny Oo said they felt very sorry when they heard a prison inmate was assaulted by prison authorities for her failure to tell Hanny Oo not to wear a black dress to court.
"Hanny Oo was not allowed to wear the black dress and ordered to change clothes. They again ordered her to change when her next dress included a bit of black yarn. Prison staff Tin Tin Maw then slapped an inmate who was guarding the door while Hanny Oo was changing dress for not telling her not to dress in black. She felt very sorry to see that. They impose restrictions even on dress. She feels this is an attempt by prison authorities to sow dissension among prison inmates," commented one of her family members.
Hanny Oo was arrested by Military Affairs Security personnel and civilian security contingents while talking with four friends on the 9th of October 2007 at her home in South Okkalapa Township. She was accused of having met with All Burma Federation of Student Union (ABFSU) members.
Her case is scheduled to hold its next hearing on the 20th of August, while Suu Suu Nwe's case has been remanded until a week later, on the 27th.
