| Women’s group chair ill-treated in detention
Dec 14, 2007 (DVB)–The chairperson of the Burmese Housewives’ Association, Daw San San Myint, has described how she was beaten and arrested during fuel price protests on 24 August in Rangoon.
Around 20 members of the association were arrested after they staged a protests in front of Rangoon city hall.
Daw San San Myint said that she was beaten up and arrested before taken to Kyaikkasan interrogation centre.
“On the third day of my detention, my body and limbs started to get swollen but I was given no treatment,” she said.
She was transferred to police brigade (3) at Hmawbi township on 2 September, along with other detainees, but faced poor conditions there.
“When I got there I realized they had not even finished building toilets for the detainees,” Daw San San Myint said.
“They only provided us with muddy water to drink there. My body and stomach became bloated after a few days of detention in the police brigade (3),” she said.
“I got very sick and I could not have any food for about eight days. I became malnourished.”
Daw San San Myint was released from brigade (3) on 3 October and sought treatment for her illness from a traditional physician, but this was stopped by the authorities.
“The local special police officer who has been watching me closely pressured the physician to stop giving me treatment. He got scared and is not coming to see me now,” she said.
“This is a serious violation of human rights and it is happening everywhere – both inside and outside of prison. I would like to urge the international community to protect us from such abuses.”
Of the 20 Burmese Housewives’ Association members who were arrested on 24 August, all but three have now been released.
One of those who remains in detention is Khin Mar Cho, who is due to be brought before Pazundaung court today.
However, Khin Mar Cho is not being charged for her involvement in the protests, but on separate issues.
Reporting by Maung Too
|
