The incident happened on Nov.10 after Ko Aung Naing and Ko Nay Tun Aung were arrested after quarrelling with the shop owner. When they were taken to the Tamwe Police station they were allegedly tortured. Ko Aung Naing said they beat him because he is an ex-political prisoner.

Ko Aung Naing was released from prison on July 3 after he and 10 other Arakanese youth was convicted in 2009 for connections to the All Arakan Student and Youth Congress exile group.

“The home ministry has sent a team to look into our case of torture. The team is investigating both of us, the tea-shop owner, and the police  including U Kyaw Zaw Win, who tortured us. The investigators told us just to tell the truth and not to worry about anyone or anything. They will take action. They also told us their seniors assigned them to the case after finding an online news report about us.”

Both Narinjara and other Burma media wrote news reports about the two mens’ arrest.  

Police Major U Ba Tun, Sub-Inspector U Soe Naung and Sub-Inspector U Than Tun are conducting the investigation.

Ko Aung Naing said Tamwe Township Police apologized to them when the men were called to the police station before the formal investigation started.

“We’ve accepted their apologies on humanitarian grounds, but told them they should make a public apology, and they agreed.”

 The police publically apologized to the men in the presence of two members from the Committee for Assisting Former Political Prisoners who took photos.