NLD member threatened during interrogation

Source: Naw Say Phaw and Aye Nai
Democratic Voice of Burma

Jan 18, 2008 (DVB) – A National League for Democracy member who was arrested on 13 January and released yesterday has claimed the authorities made threats against him and his family during his interrogation.

U Maung Soe, the deputy chairman of Taung Twun Gyi township NLD, was arrested by officials he assumed to be from Military Affairs Security forces.

He was blindfolded and handcuffed when he was arrested, so was unsure where he was taken for questioning, but he believed the interrogation took place in Amarapura township, Mandalay division.

During the interrogation, officials questioned U Maung Soe about some documents allegedly sent to him by Chauk township NLD member Ye Thein Naing in December 2007.

But U Maung Soe claimed he knew nothing about these documents, and so was unable to answer the questions put to him.

U Maung Soe said that he was made to stand up constantly for two days straight, and threatened by the officials to try to make him talk.

“They threatened to punch me in the face if I refused to answer and they said they were going to pull out my moustache hairs one by one,” he said.

“They also made threats against my mother and father, who are nearly 82 and 90 years old, saying they would interrogate them in the same way as me if I didn’t answer their questions.”

U Maung Soe was also made to sign an agreement promising not to talk to foreign media or other NLD members about his interrogation.

U Par Lay, the Taung Twin Gyu township NLD secretary and communications committee member, was arrested on the same day as U Maung Soe, and was released on 16 January.

U Par Lay told his wife he was taken to Mandalay by the authorities.