NLD Statement 39 in English

[nldburma@xxxxxxxxxxx]

National League for Democracy
NO (97/B), West Shwegondine Road
Bahan, Rangoon

Statement No: 39(3/99)

Contents of letter dated 3 March 1999 from the Chairman, National League 
for Democracy to the Chairman of the Chairman of the State Peace and 
Development Council is reproduced and published for the information of 
all.

START 

" Subject- Illegal demands of money by soldiers in villages resulting in 
the death of one soldier.

1.	Information received is that one soldier from Infantry Battalion No: 
11(IB-11)  based in Shwebo was beaten to death in the Maungdine village, 
Zee-byu-gone village-tract, Kan-ba-lu township, Sagaing Division.

2.	The facts given to us is that on the 23 January 1999 at about 15:30 
hours in the evening, four soldiers (Lein Htan, Thet Cho Oo, Than Aye, 
and Htun Htun) arrived at the village and arrested the first two 
villagers they saw whose names are Maung Htun and Mya Thein after which 
they demanded Kyats 20,000(twenty thousand). These two said that they 
did not have that money to give and offered to take them to the house of 
the village chairman. For refusing to give the money immediately they 
were punched and fisted by the four soldiers.

3.	The villagers who witnessed this found it intolerable so they came 
out shouting " dacoits" and beat up the soldiers. The soldiers responded 
with a hand grenade which did not explode. As a result, Lein Htan died, 
Thet Cho Oo received injuries and the other two escaped.

4.	Prior to the incident, soldiers had continuously made illegal demands 
for ten thousand and fifteen thousand Kyats from the villagers of 
Min-ywa and Kya-bak-kan respectively. Though the village elders had made 
complaints about this to the township SPDC, no effective action was 
taken. Fourteen villagers have been arrested in connection with the 
death of this soldier.

5.	Further information received is that it is a regular practice for 
soldiers from the IB-11 and IB-42 to visit nearby villages on Saturday 
and Sunday and demand money from villagers and the owners of rice mills 
and one thousand Kyat for every cart carrying bamboo or firewood.

6.	The death of one soldier, the injures received by another and the 
arrest of 14 villagers are events that should never have happened. We 
therefore protest this habitual practice of soldiers demanding money 
from villagers and ask that it be stopped. " 						END


Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy


Rangoon
5 March 1999


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