Jul 8, 2008 (DVB), Activist Su Su Nway has been in solitary confinement since 5 July due to an argument with Insein prison officials, according to Dr Win Naing, a member of the National League for Democracy’s information department.

Dr Win Naing said the argument broke out while prison officials were conductinf a search of Su Su Nway’s belongings in her cell.

"They said the search was a regular procedure in the prison every month after detainees have received items sent in by their families so that they can seize things that are prohibited by prison regulations," he said.

"They criticised Su Su Nway for not keeping her things tidy in the cell and she argued with them. Then they put her in solitary confinement."

Dr Win Naing said it was wrong for prison officials to treat Su Su Nway like a criminal when she had not yet been sentenced for any crime.

"But now in Burma, it is becoming common for prison officials to treat detainees rudely as if they were all criminals," the NLD member said.

"Some of them really don’t know such treatment towards the detainees is not according to the law," he said.

"But some are doing it knowing it’s not right."

Reporting by Khin Hnin Htet