May 8, 2008 (DVB)
US considering food drop to cyclone victims
May 8, 2008 (AP)
NLD offers to help distribute cyclone aid
May 8, 2008 (DVB)
Four Insein prisoners die during interrogation
May 7, 2008 (DVB)-Four Insein prison inmates reportedly died during questioning as authorities investigated a riot in the prison, while another 98 have been held in punishment cells.
In a statement released yesterday, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners gave further details of the riot in the early hours of Saturday morning in which 36 prisoners were killed.
According to the group, more than 1500 prisoners were locked in a prison hall after Cyclone Nargis destroyed parts of the prison, and a riot broke out after their requests to move to safety were refused by prison guards.
"Some prisoners started shouting demands, and some set fire to the prison hall. The fire burnt down the hall, and a riot situation ensued in the prison," the AAPP statement said.
Soldiers and riot police were called in after prison guards failed to control the situation, and opened fire on the prisoners, killing 36 and injuring around 70.
Smoke from the fire spread throughout the prison, including to blocks where political prisoners such as 88 Generation Student leader Min Ko Naing were being held.
They were eventually allowed out of their cells to escape the smoke, but one political prisoner was admitted to the prison hospital with breathing difficulties and Min Ko Naing’s eye condition has deteriorated due to the smoke.
Prison authorities conducted an investigation into the incident, which resulted in the death of four inmates under interrogation, and 98 prisoners, including four political prisoners from the National League for Democracy, were held in a punishment cell block.
AAPP secretary Ko Tate Naing said these prisoners were now undergoing further questioning.
"We have learnt the 98 prisoners who were previously put in a punishment cell block have been sent to Yay Kyi-I interrogation center for further interrogation on the incident," he said.
"This is a severe and dangerous violation of human rights."
Ko Bo Kyi, joint secretary of AAPP, said the authorities were to blame for the creating the situation.
"As soon as the storm hit, they should have moved the prisoners to safety. Their mismanagement of the situation led to prisoners rioting," Bo Kyi said.
"We condemn their violent response, which led to the needless deaths of 36 prisoners. We call on the regime to allow the UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Sergio Pinheiro to conduct an immediate investigation into the whole incident, including the cases of the four prisoners who were tortured to death."
Security has now been tightened at the prison.
Reporting by Aye Nai
Government sells food to disaster victims
May 7, 2008 (DVB)-Residents of the former Burmese capital Rangoon said the government is selling food to victims of Cyclone Nargis, but the prices remain too expensive for destitute survivors to afford.
Rangoon authorities made announcements on the streets over loudspeakers that the government was selling food for disaster victims at the city’s tax-free markets, a local resident said.
"The announcement also said rice priced at 750 kyat for one pyi, cooking oil at 2240 kyat per viss and zinc sheets [for roofing] at 4500 per sheet were now available to buy at the township Peace and Development Council offices in Rangoon," he said.
But for local residents who have been made destitute by the natural disaster, the provisions remain prohibitively expensive.
"Despite the government’s effort to help us by selling these materials at cheap prices, we can only sit back and watch as we have no money at all to buy these things as we are only daily-paid workers," the resident said.
"Now all the businesses have collapsed and we are left empty-handed."
Rangoon residents are suffering shortages of food, water and electricity, and blocked roads are making it difficult for aid to get through.
Cyclone survivors have complained that the government has not provided assistance to victims as they search for loved ones and try to rebuild their homes.
The Burmese government has said it would welcome international aid, but the lack of infrastructure and delays in visa processes have meant that relief efforts are moving slowly.
Reporting by Naw Say Phaw
Salin NLD members arrested for referendum pamphlets
May 7, 2008 (DVB)-Three National League for Democracy members in Magwe division’s Salin township have been arrested after distributing an NLD pamphlet containing information on how to vote in the upcoming referendum.
Daw Khin Saw Htay, coordinator of the Magwe NLD women’s wing, said Ko Aung Soe, Ko Win Shwe and Ko Thein Lwin were arrested at around 9am on Tuesday.
"They were arrested by Salin police on the instructions of the township authorities for possession of copies of the NLD’s statement which provides details on how to vote in the referendum and its procedures."
"There is nothing illegal in the statement, it only provides information on how to vote in the referendum. There is nothing against the referendum in it , the statement even encourages people to participate in the vote."
The national referendum on the military regime’s draft constitution is due to be held in most of the country on 10 May, despite the devastating impact of Cyclone Nargis.
The vote has been postponed until 24 May for some of the worst-affected townships in Rangoon and Irrawaddy divisions.
Reporting by Naw Say Phaw
