Chiang Mai – As news of democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's refusal to accept food supplies spreads among people, Burmese junta authorities are taking no chances. It rearrested five supporters of her party yesterday from their homes in Hlaing Thar Yar Township. Their fault – they took part in a prayer meeting for her release last year.
The protesters were arrested in May 2007 on their way to a pagoda for a prayer meeting for Suu Kyi's release from detention. They were released after 40 days in detention and signed pledges not to do it again. Now local authorities and Hlaing Thar Yar Police Station House Officer have arrested them again.
"My father was taken away from home at about 1 a.m. They told my father that he would be prosecuted for marching to the prayer meeting," said Ma Thin Thin Yu, daughter of U Tin Yu, who was arrested.
"My father told them that he had already signed a pledge and was not into any activity now demanding to know why he was being arrested. The inspector said they were acting on orders of higher authorities," she added.
Also arrested were Ko San Naing, Ko Soe Min Min, Ma Hla Hla Maw and Ko Yan Naing Tun (Kemmendine). Their whereabouts are not known.
The National League for Democracy (NLD) party leaders said that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been refusing food supplies since August 22.
U Nyo Ohn Myint, Foreign Affairs In-charge of NLD (Liberated Area) had said that in his opinion she was refusing food supplies to protest the planned 2010 generals and demanding direct dialogue with the junta.
The junta has produced pro-democracy activists in courts. Eleven protesters from Hlaing Thar Yar -- Ko Thant Zin Myo, Ko Kyaw Soe Win, Ko Sann Win, Ko Win Myint, Ko Aung Min Naing a.k.a. Mee Thway (charcoal) among others were produced in the Hlaing Thar Yar court. They were arrested on August 28 while they were staging a demonstration at Hledan junction, Kamayut Township protesting rising commodity prices.
"The 11 accused including Thant Zin Myo from Hlaing Thar Yar were produced at Hlaing Thar Yar court about 11 a.m. They were charged under section 505(b) (inducing crime against public tranquility), section 143 (joining unlawful assembly), sections 145 and 152 of the Criminal Code (Indian Penal Code)," Ko Thant Zin Oo from Hlaing Thar Yar said.
They are now in Insein prison and Ko Pho Phyu and some other lawyers are defending them.
Similarly Ko Dee Nyein Linn (final year Geology student of West Rangoon University) arrested on October 23 after the saffron revolution was charged under section 13(1) of the Immigration Act and sentenced to three years in prison by Insein Township Court yesterday.
"We will appeal against this verdict though there is no hope for any significant change in the verdict from a higher court. There is tremendous pressure on the judge," a person close to Ko Dee Nyein Lin said.
It was learnt that Ko Ye Myat Hein (17) (first year Mathematics student of West Campus) arrested on October 10 for joining the protest march with monks on August 25 last year, was produced before Insein court yesterday.
