(formerly the Karen State in the "...There have been numerous allegations that people arrested for their non-violent political activities in Yangon and other towns since 18 September 1988 have been ill-treated during interrogation by the military intelligence authorities. Amnesty International has been able to obtain a few first-hand testimonies about alleged ill-treatment since 18 September 1988 of people arrested in the Kayin State who were accused of involvement with insurgent groups or seized there or in the Yangon Division and forced to act as porters in the Kayin State The organization considers that in at least some cases, seizing and forcing suspected political opponents to work as porters is analogous to detaining them without charge or trial, and that these people are effectively political prisoners. Four testimonies about ill-treatment of political prisoners and porters are contained in this document. One is by a political prisoner who says he was beaten during interrogation by military intelligence officers in the Kayin State in early 1989, and the others by porters who say they themselves were ill-treated and saw other porters ill-treated or killed during counter-insurgency operations in the Kayin State in October 1988 and June 1989..."