NEWS - Burmese Activist Arrested on

[Rangoonp@xxxxxxx]

Subject: NEWS - Burmese Activist Arrested on Indo-Burma border

MIZZIMA NEWS GROUP - July 30, 1999

BORDER

Burmese Activist Arrested on Indo-Burma border

Local police in Moreh, Indian border town with Burma arrested Ko Nyo, a
member of All Burma Students League (ABSL), yesterday. He was arrested
in
Moreh at about 6.30 p.m. This was confirmed by a press release issued by
the
ABSL in Manipur State of India on July 30, 1999. The ABSL is India-based
Burmese student organization, which is struggling for the restoration of
democracy in Burma.

According to the press release, the warrant to arrest Ko Nyo was issued
three days before his actual arrest. Mr. Th. Daniesh Singh, Sub
Divisional
Police Officer (SPDO) in Moreh, executed the warrant. It said that
Manipur
Home Ministry issued the warrant with a directive from Indian Central
Government and he was arrested without any formal charges.

Ko Nyo is currently detained in the bungalow of SPDO, Moreh. The ABSL,
in
its press release, requested the Government of India to release Ko Nyo
from
detention as soon as possible. Moreover, it condemned the ruling
military
regime in Burma, which it thinks to be playing active role behind the
arrest
of Ko Nyo who is a Burmese pro-democracy activist. Ko Nyo has been
living in
India since 1988 and he is a recognized refugee of the United Nations
High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

He is currently working as India-based stringer for Radio Free Asia
(Burmese
Language Service). It is noted that Home Ministry officials from India
and
Burma were meeting in New Delhi from July 28 to July 30. This was the
Sixth
National Level talks between India and Burma. The Indian delegation was
led
by Home Secretary Mr. Kamal Pandey while Burmese delegation was led by
Deputy Home Minister Brig. General Thura Myint Maung.

According to a press release from Indian Home Ministry, "the meeting was
held in an atmosphere of great warmth and cordially and helped in
further
strengthening the cooperation between the two countries". Meanwhile, the
President of Manipur People's Party (MPP) Mr. O. Joy Singh has condemned
the
arrest of the Burmese activist.

In a telephone interview with MIZZIMA, he said that such arrest without
any
basis is not desirable. He has talked with the Chief Secretary of
Manipur

and asked him not to deport Ko Nyo to the hands of Burmese military
government. He told MIZZIMA that he is writing to the Central Government
to
give the directive to the Manipur Government to immediately release the
activist.