Wednesday 14 May 2008

Villager arrested for possession of anti-referendum leaflets

By Hawkeye/Hseng Khio Fah

The authorities in Namkham, northern Shan State, found anti-referendum leaflets at the home of a former village headman while looking for heroin users and arrested him, according to local sources.

On 11 May evening, authorities in Namkham searched the house of Sai Ngeun Hsoi Hsai, former headman of Wanpong-Wanoi, Kunlong village tract, claiming they were looking for heroin users.

They found vote No leaflets which were distributed before 10 May referendum. They arrested him instantly and called the village tract secretary Sai Yi Mon to translate.

The authorities asked, "Where did you get the leaflets? Who else have these leaflets? If someone come and tell us, Ngeun Hsoi Hsai will be released."

There has been no information about him since his detention, and the authorities have yet to release him, said a villager.

Sai Yi Mon, who acted as the interpreter, attended the National Convention in the peasants' category along with the secretary of local Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) Sai Kyaw Myint, 57, who was assassinated on 4 May while campaigning for public support of junta drafted charter.

Shanland News

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