Oct 12, 2007 (DVB), The National League for Democracy said yesterday that the party is suspicious about the recent death in detention of an NLD party member at Palate township interrogation center in Mandalay.

Ko Win Shwe, 42, a member of the NLD in Mandalay division’s Kyaukpadaung township, was arrested by authorities on 27 September and taken to the interrogation center in Palate township.

Ko Win Shwe’s family was informed by government officials of his death on Tuesday this week. The officials refused to disclose the cause of death to family members and did not allow them to see his body or hold a funeral for him, telling them he had already been cremated.

U Nyan Win, a spokesperson for the NLD, told DVB that Ko Win Shwe’s death had now been confirmed by the NLD. He said that the behaviour of government officials made it difficult to believe he had died of natural causes.

"We have already had confirmation of Ko Win Shwe’s death…. It is suspicious as the authorities did not even let his family see his body and instead cremated it themselves," said U Nyan Win.

"According to the law, the officials have to open an investigation into the death of anyone who dies in detention or in a prison. But they didn’t do that either," he said.

Reporting by Htet Aung Kyaw