Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Five social activists including Dr. Wint Thu from Myingyan, Mandalay Division were arrested and detained at the Special Branch (SB) of the Police office at the foot of the Mandalay hill, a source who is close to Dr. Wint Thu's family said.

Pol. Col. Thet Wei from Mandalay Division SB along with 20 police personnel arrested five activists including Dr. Wint Thu without giving any reason, from their homes on September 16. When their family members learnt that they were being detained at the Divisional SB office, they went there and tried to meet them on September 22 but they were not allowed to do so.  

"They are being held at the SB office. Their family members went there but were not allowed to meet them. No official came out and met them. Only a young policeman came out and told them that they could leave the parcels if they wished but they were not sure if these parcels would reach their family members. So they decided not to leave anything," a source close to Dr. Wint Thu's family told Mizzima.

The authorities arrested Dr. Wint Thu, Myo Han, Aung Myo Latt, Hla Myo Kyaw a.k.a. ET, Yargyi a.k.a. Soe Yarzar Phyu from their homes on September 16  at 3 a.m.

"About 20 police personnel in three police vehicles surrounded our house and asked about my brother. My elder brother was not at home. Only my mother was at home. When she asked them if they wanted to arrest my brother they said no. They just wanted to question him. My mother asked them to come in the afternoon. They said that the matter had come up a moment before.  My brother visited the SB office next morning when he heard about his colleagues arrest," Dr. Wint Thu’s younger sister told Mizzima.

When Dr. Wint Thu heard about his brother-in-law Kyi Win being arrested by SB, he visited the SB office next morning. He was arrested. After that Kyi Win was released.

Dr. Wint Thu collected donation along with likeminded friends for Cyclone Nargis victims and donated tens of millions of Kyats.

Moreover they took an active part in the ‘White Campaign’ movement organized by the National League for Democracy (NLD), praying for the release of political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at the pagoda by wearing white clothes. He and his colleagues were once mobbed at the pagoda by junta backed USDA members. And then about 200 people encircled the USDA members from outside. This incident was much talked about in Myingyan.

"He could donate tens of millions of Kyats to Nargis victims along with his friends. They constructed buildings for eight primary schools and paid salaries to about 30 teachers in these schools. I think he was arrested for these activities," Meiktila Township NLD Secretary Myint Myint Aye said.

Two days after Dr. Wint Thu and four other activists were arrested, another five persons including Than Htike Aung from No. 6 Ward, Myingyan were also picked up.