MP relative of Burmese intelligence

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: MP relative of Burmese intelligence chief, released

Burma-NLD : MP relative of Burmese intelligence chief,
                            released

                            RANGOON, April 4 (AFP) - An elected Burmese
opposition MP who
                            was charged with running an authorised medical
clinic has been
                            released after paying a small fine, informed
sources said Friday.

                            Doctor Than Nyein, whose medical license was
revoked on
                            February 19 by the health ministry for
"breaching medical
                            professional ethics," was released from custody
Wednesday after
                            paying 1,000 kyats (six dollars at the
prevailing market rate).

                            He is the brother-in-law of intelligence chief
Lieutenant General
                            Khin Nyunt, first secretary of the ruling junta,
the State Law and
                            Order Restoration Council (SLORC).

                            Observers noted it was the first time a member
of the main
                            opposition National League for Democracy (NLD),
which is led by
                            Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, had been
tried
                            according to due legal process.

                            NLD party members found guilty of even a minor
law violation are
                            usually given sentences ranging from three to
seven years.

                            Than Nyein is vice-chairman of the NLD's Rangoon
division. He
                            won a seat in the May 1990 general elections,
which were swept
                            by the NLD. The SLORC ignored the results and
never convened
                            parliament.

                            Meanwhile, sources said another NLD MP and
physician is due to
                            appear in a Rangoon court on Friday.

                            Doctor Than Aung is facing charges brought
against him on
                            February 21 for allegedly running an authorised
clinic and causing
                            the death of a patient through negligence.

                            Observers in the Burmese capital were awaiting
the outcome, to
                            see if Than Aung would receive a fair trial like
his NLD collegue,
                            Than Nyein.