Young Activist Given 15-Year Sentence

By SAW YAN NAING

A young activist, Dee Nyein Lin, 20, was sentenced to a total of 15 years and six months imprisonment on Wednesday, according to family members in Rangoon.

Dee Nyein Lin, who is a leading member of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU), received an additional 5-year sentence at a court in South Dagon Township in Rangoon, said his aunt. Currently, he is detained in Insein Prison in Rangoon.

His aunt told The Irrawaddy on Thursday, “I’m not happy because his sentence is harsh for him because he is still young. But, he told me not to worry about him. He said he works for the people. He asked me not to feel sad.”

Dee Nyein Lin was charged with taking part in anti-government demonstrations and establishing an illegal organization.

Dee Nyein Lin’s aunt said Burmese police tried to take photographs of his relatives and Dee Nyein Lin’s colleagues.

A colleague of Dee Nyein Lin, Kyaw Ko Ko, has been hospitalized in Insein Prison since January 5, suffering from jaundice.

Kyaw Ko Ko, also an ABFSU leader, was arrested in March 2008 following his participation in the Buddhist monk-led uprising in September 2007 and has since been detained in Insein Prison. He is scheduled to appear in court again on February 9.

Meanwhile, sources in Rangoon said that six cyclone relief volunteers including Nay Win, Aung Kyaw San, Phone Pyit Kywe, Phyo Phyo Aung, Shane Yazar Htun and Aung Thant Zin Oo (aka) James appeared in the Insein Prison special court on Monday. They are scheduled to appear again on February 10.

Recently, the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) and the Burmese Women’s Union strongly condemned the inadequate healthcare for political prisoners in Burma.

One detained female activist recently suffered a miscarriage.

Kay Thi Aung, 23, also an ABFSU member, suffered the miscarriage in Obo Prison in Mandalay Division because of a lack of adequate medical care in the prison, said the prisoner’s group.

According to human rights groups, an estimated 2,100 political prisoners are behind bars in Burma.

In his recent visit to the country, the UN special envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, asked the military government to release all political prisoners.

In response, Burma’s premier, Thein Sein, said: “The UN should make efforts to lift economic sanctions imposed on Myanmar [Burma] if the organization wants to see a prosperous Myanmar with political stability.”