Dec 13, 2007 (DVB), A 17-year-old student who has been detained for over two months in connection with the public demonstrations in September has complained of beatings and ill-treatment, according to his mother.

Daw San Aye is the mother of Maung Ye Myat Hein, a mathematics student currently being held in Insein prison in Rangoon.

Although Maung Ye Myat Hein was told he would only be held for a few days, he has still not been released or charged.

"My son was taken from home by government officials on October 10. They said they needed to ask him some questions and that it would only take two or three days. But now it has been two months that he's been in detention in Insein," he said.

"They still haven't charged my son with anything. He is only 17 years old so he is still a minor. It's illegal to do that to a minor."

Maung Ye Myat Hein is being held in a communal ward with other 50 detainees, 36 of whom are monks from Ngwe Kyar Yan, Sanana Thatepan, Maggin and other monasteries in North Okkalapa.

Daw San Aye said that Maung Ye Myat Hein seemed healthy, but looked thin and had been under a lot of pressure.

"My son said he was beaten up after he couldn't answer the questions the officials asked him about our family," said Daw San Aye.

"He was also made to 'ride a motorbike'," she said, referring to a stress position used by interrogators where the detainee is made to simulate riding a motorcycle for hours at a time.

Daw San Aye said she was worried about how long her son might be held.

"When they took him for the first time, he was detained for about 45 days. And this time, it has been over two months. I want my son to be released. He has an exam next month," she said.

Reporting by Naw Say Phaw