YANGON, Myanmar, Sep. 23, 2009
Myanmar Accuses Detained Myanmar-American Of Seeking To Create Political Unrest
(AP) Myanmar on Wednesday accused a Myanmar-born American who was secretly detained three weeks ago of seeking to incite political unrest.
State television news said Kyaw Zaw Lwin confessed that he plotted with dissident groups outside the country, and accused him of being linked to several activists inside Myanmar who planned to set off bombs.
It said authorities, acting on a tip-off, arrested Kyaw Zaw Lwin on Sept. 3 on his arrival at Yangon airport.
Fellow activists reported his disappearance, but there was no word of his fate until Tuesday, when the U.S. Embassy announced that one of its officers had been allowed to visit him.
The television report said Kyaw Zaw Lwin was a member of the dissident group All Burma Students' Democratic Front. It said he had entered Myanmar to create unrest and stir up protests by Buddhist monks.
Kyaw Zaw Lwin's mother is serving a five-year jail term for political activities and his sister was sentenced to 65 years in prison for her role in pro-democracy protests two years ago, activist groups and family members said.
Authorities have tightened security because of concerns about political unrest in mid-September. Sept. 18 was the second anniversary of the start of massive pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks in Yangon that were suppressed by the ruling military a few days later. It was also the 21st anniversary of the military's seizure of power in 1988 after quashing an even larger pro-democracy movement.
On Sept. 17, seven small homemade explosives were set off at industrial parks in Yangon's suburbs, but no one claimed responsibility. The TV report said the explosions were meant to put international attention on Myanmar during this month's U.N. General Assembly session, but did not name any perpetrators.
It said Kyaw Zaw Lwin was a member of an anti-government student group during the 1988 demonstrations and went into exile when the military seized power.
The report said Kyaw Zaw Lwin had entered the country eight times between November 2005 and September 2009 and had confessed to actively taking part in anti-government activities and providing financial assistance to anti-government groups inside the country.
Three people were arrested in the first week of September with C-4 plastic explosives and satellite phones, it said.
The TV report said legal action will be taken against Kyaw Zaw Lwin and the other detainees, and an investigation would be launched to determine their contacts.
Kyaw Zaw Lwin's hometown in the U.S. was not immediately available.
Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/09/23/ap/asia/main5331833.shtml
Myanmar Accuses Detained Myanmar-American Of Seeking To Create Political Unrest
(AP) Myanmar on Wednesday accused a Myanmar-born American who was secretly detained three weeks ago of seeking to incite political unrest.
State television news said Kyaw Zaw Lwin confessed that he plotted with dissident groups outside the country, and accused him of being linked to several activists inside Myanmar who planned to set off bombs.
It said authorities, acting on a tip-off, arrested Kyaw Zaw Lwin on Sept. 3 on his arrival at Yangon airport.
Fellow activists reported his disappearance, but there was no word of his fate until Tuesday, when the U.S. Embassy announced that one of its officers had been allowed to visit him.
The television report said Kyaw Zaw Lwin was a member of the dissident group All Burma Students' Democratic Front. It said he had entered Myanmar to create unrest and stir up protests by Buddhist monks.
Kyaw Zaw Lwin's mother is serving a five-year jail term for political activities and his sister was sentenced to 65 years in prison for her role in pro-democracy protests two years ago, activist groups and family members said.
Authorities have tightened security because of concerns about political unrest in mid-September. Sept. 18 was the second anniversary of the start of massive pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks in Yangon that were suppressed by the ruling military a few days later. It was also the 21st anniversary of the military's seizure of power in 1988 after quashing an even larger pro-democracy movement.
On Sept. 17, seven small homemade explosives were set off at industrial parks in Yangon's suburbs, but no one claimed responsibility. The TV report said the explosions were meant to put international attention on Myanmar during this month's U.N. General Assembly session, but did not name any perpetrators.
It said Kyaw Zaw Lwin was a member of an anti-government student group during the 1988 demonstrations and went into exile when the military seized power.
The report said Kyaw Zaw Lwin had entered the country eight times between November 2005 and September 2009 and had confessed to actively taking part in anti-government activities and providing financial assistance to anti-government groups inside the country.
Three people were arrested in the first week of September with C-4 plastic explosives and satellite phones, it said.
The TV report said legal action will be taken against Kyaw Zaw Lwin and the other detainees, and an investigation would be launched to determine their contacts.
Kyaw Zaw Lwin's hometown in the U.S. was not immediately available.
Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/09/23/ap/asia/main5331833.shtml
Comments
Post a Comment