NLD Statement 142/2000:
National League for Democracy
No: (97/B), West Shwegonedine Road
Bahan Township, Rangoon
Statement 142 (9/00) (translation)
1. NLD Chairman U Tin Oo, General Secretary Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,Rangoon Division Organizing Committee Chairman and Central Executive Committee member U Soe Myint, Rangoon Division Organizing Committee member Dr. U Myo Aung and sixteen members of the NLD Youth Wing (including the two drivers) made arrangements to leave Rangoon from the Pansodan jetty on the 24 August 2000. The plan was to visit the townships of Kungyangon and Kawhmu to reorganize the Youth Wing. The authorities blocked their departure at the Pansodan jetty for one and a half hours after which they crossed to the town of Dala where they boarded two cars which were awaiting them to proceed to Kungyangon. About three miles outside of Dala at Kyansitha ward, the road was blocked and Police Superintendent Myo Lwin told them that they could not proceed further and they should return to Rangoon. U Tin Oo , Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and party refused to turn back so the military dictators lifted the two cars off the road and removed them on to a dirt road in the fields by the side of the main road.
2. U Tin Oo, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and party adamantly stayed on determined to wait there till they could go to Kungyangon. From Dala (which they could access) building materials such as reed matting, bamboo matting and tarpaulins were purchased. A one room shelter for the youth and a covering (for top and sides) to provide shelter for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's car was put up.
3. With food and clothing supplied by the NLD, the group remained on the site. The military dictators then shut the pipe line from which drinking water is regularly obtainable, took pictures of the movements of U Tin Oo and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi with video cameras and pestered them in devious ways. Despite all the harassment, they stood firm. On the ninth day (1.9.2000) at 11:15 p.m. Chief Police Superintendent Aung Nwe, Police Superintendent Myo Lwin, and a force of 200-400 security personnel including MIS Major Ne Soe and Teza suddenly raided the camp. Some youth members were beaten up while six women pinioned Daw Aung Suu Kyi and transported her to 54-56 University Avenue in the military dictator vehicle. The same kind of force was applied to U Tin Oo who was transported to his residence where he was dragged out of the car very aggressively. NLD properties were lost on that night and a demand for return of the said properties lost has been made but with no result.
4. In addition to manhandling and forcefully transporting U Tin Oo and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi that night they raided the head office of the NLD. The next day all NLD Central Committee members were held under house arrest. During the period of house arrest their behaviour was most unacceptable. For example, Central Executive Committee member U Lwin was not permitted to visit the surgery for his physical ailment and was told by the security guard that he would not be permitted to go anywhere at all and to avoid responsibility he said that these were orders from above. U Lwin's request for visitation by certain doctors was refused. However, later on after repeated demands for medical attention of U Lwin and others, permission was granted not out of genuine concern but obviously as propaganda to their advantage.
5. On 14 September 2000 at 9:00 a.m. NLD Chairman U Aung Shwe was invited by SPDC Secretary 1, General Khin Nyunt and was informed that all movement restrictions placed on NLD Central Executive members were withdrawn and the head office was also opened.
6. The raid on the NLD office, restrictions on the movements of U Tin Oo and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in their legitimate party organizational activities are unacceptable and heinous violations of human rights and serious offences. The National League for Democracy vehemently condemns these illegal actions of the authorities. We vigorously denounce the illegal arrests made on the 13th and 14th September 2000 of the following persons and demand that they be immediately set free:-
1. U Saw Naing Naing, (NLD Hluttaw representative for Pazundaung township).
2. U Soe Han, (member of Rangoon Division Organizing Committee).
3. U Htoon Myint, ( NLD HQ staff)
4. U Aung Myint, (Poet Pyapon Ne Lon Oo) ( Chairman of Bahan township NLD Organisation Committee).
5. U Soe (Deputy Chairman)
6. U Kyaw Sein Aung (Chairman of Kungyangon Organizing Committee)
7. U Htein Win (Deputy Chairman)
8. U Sein Htay (Deputy Chairman)
9. U Zaw U (Secretary)
10. U San Myaing (Treasurer)
11. U Tin Nyunt (member Kungyangon organizing committee)
7. Restrictions placed on the legal activities of the National League for Democracy a legally constituted political party including the activities of U Tin Oo and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi are totally unacceptable. Immediate legal action will be taken for the invasion of the head office of the NLD. This is to announce that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will within ten days travel to places outside Rangoon to actively organize and continue with her political duties.
Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy
Rangoon
15 September 2000
National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma
http://www.ncgub.net/article.php/20070522144125709