Taungup: Elderly political prisoner U Kyaw Khaing was moved on Sunday to Theyet Prison in Magwe Division from Thandwe prison in Arakan State, said a relative of his.

"It is intended by the authority that U Kyaw Khaing face more difficulties in Thet Ret Prison. He is now very old and he will face many problems there because his relatives and colleagues are unable to go there to see him regularly. Theyet Prison is far away from Arakan State," he said.

U Kyaw Khaing, who is 85 years old, was placed in Thandwe Prison in his home district after being sentenced by the Taungup Township court on 13 August.

U Kyaw Khaing, who is Chairman of the NLD in Taungup Township, was charged in a defamation case brought by former NLD Taungup Township Vice-Chairman U Than Pee, who was dismissed from his post.

According to a local source, U Than Pee collected funds from local residents to donate to victims of Cyclone Nargis. U Kyaw Khaing told U Than Pee not to carry out such fundraising without the approval of the other NLD members. When U Than Pee failed to follow this directive, U Kyaw Khaing dismissed him from his post with the Central Committee's agreement.

After the incident, U Than Pee brought defamation charges against U Kyaw Khaing at the Taungup Township court.

"U Kyaw Khaing was not guilty and it was an internal party problem, but the court sentenced him to two years in prison because he is a active politically and is Chairman of the township NLD in Taungup," the relative added.

Many locals believe that U Kyaw Khaing is innocent and was sentenced because he is a member of the same political party as democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.