Translation of NLD transcripts (Sta

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Subject: Translation of NLD transcripts (Statement No. 5 & 6)

[The following is translated from NLD transcripts (Statement No. 5 & 6)
written in Burmese.]

National League for Democracy
No: 97/B, West Shwegonedine Road
Bahan township, Rangoon

Statement No. 05/97

1. The National League for Democracy is a legally founded political
party which is duly registered [with the Election Commission].  The NLD
has clearly announced to the Nation that it is an organisation which
lays down principles upon which to systematically build democratic
procedures.

2.  NLD is the political party which contested in the multi-party and
democracy general elections in accordance with democratic principles and
won an overwhelming victory.  

3. The victorious party planned  to hold  meetings on 27 and 28 May 1997
with its members and its Representatives of the People (members of the
parliament) at State/Division/Township level to discuss ways and means
for the establishment of a sustainable and genuine democratic system for
the people.

4.  When responding this, the State Law and Order Restoration Council
never ever took into account the aim of NLD's meeting, but echoed
earlier accusations that NLD was creating disturbances and threatening
the security of the country.

5.  The authorities imposed the following measures in order to prevent
the meeting from taking place:

a) Barring representatives from States/Divisions/Townships from
attending the meeting.
b) Arresting representatives from States/Divisions/Townships from
attending the meeting.  In some cases, wives and children of NLD members
were subjected to arrest when their husbands were not found by the
authorities.  
c) Strictly blocking the University Avenue and other roads in Rangoon
which lead to NLD General Secretary Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's house. 
Moreover, they plotted, attempted and threatened to arrest members of
the NLD who temporarily gathered at the home of one of the executive
members of the NLD by the use of force.

d) The aforementioned acts of the State Law and Order Restoration
Council are in great contradictory to their claims to establish the
country with a democratic system.

7.  The NLD, therefore, strongly denounce, all these kinds of
aforementioned acts.

Rangoon
Central Executive Committee
27 May 1997
National League for Democracy 
------------------------------
National League for Democracy
No: 97/B, West Shwegonedine Road
Bahan township, Rangoon

Statement No. 06/97

1.  It is lamentable that Monywa Tin Shwe (a.k.a) U Tin Shwe (Monywa)
(High Court Lawyer and National League for Democracy founding member)
passed away on 8 June 1997 (Sunday) aged 68 years.


2.  U Tin Shwe was arrested on 29 November 1990 by the authorities,
tried under Section 5(a), (e), and (j) of Emergency Provisions Act and
sentenced to serve 18 years imprisonment.  He was serving his term in
Insein Jail.

3. On 23 April 1997, upon learning that the health of U Tin Shwe was
greatly deteriorating, the Chairman of the NLD sent a letter to the
SLORC in which the following was stated: 

"...Hereby, the NLD would like to inform that it will hold the
authorities if U Tin Shwe was to pass away without enjoying proper
rights of a patient such as proper food and admission to a hospital in
order to receive proper care treatment."

4.  Regarding U Tin Shwe's health situation, we heard as follows:

a) He suffered from heart disease and was admitted to the hospital
inside the jail in April 1997 (a few days before the Water Festival).
b) On 21 April 1997, his family made an appeal to the authorities for
permission to allow him to have treatment with physicians and
specialists outside the jail. The appeal was in vain. On the same day he
was sent back from the in-jail hospital to the cell where he had been
kept.
c) On 30 April 1997, due to his worsening health condition, he was
admitted to the Insein prison hospital again
d)  On 3 June 1997, he was discharged and sent back to his cell.

e) On the morning of 8 June 1997, his room-mate found that he had
collapsed in his cell while he was meditating. It was reported that he
died on the way to in-jail hospital while he was being carried by the
prison authorities.

f) When he was taken from there to the Rangoon General Hospital, the
doctor-on-duty reportedly stated that he had already died. 

5.  The aforementioned facts clearly confirm that the health situation
of U Tin Shwe was worsening.  It should be noticed that he died because
the concerned authorities were responsible for denying him a treatment
with the physicians and specialists outside the jail after his family
had appealed for the necessary treatment. 

6. U Tin Shwe was denied access to enjoy his rights as a patient while
his health condition was worsening.  We urge the authorities to
cooperate with [his surviving] family members in order to cremate him
according to the rights of Buddhist traditions and customs.


Rangoon
Central Executive Committee
Nayon 5th waxing day, 1359
National League for Democracy
June 10, 1997