By Shah Paung
October 25, 2007
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Women prisoners in Burma are facing many difficulties, according to women who have been released following detention. The health conditions for those in interrogation centers are also a concern.
Last week, the UN issued a report citing abuse against women throughout the world, especially in conflict zones.
Activist Nyut Nyut Tin, 49, who was detained in Taungoo No. 2 police interrogation centre for three days, told The Irrawaddy on Thursday she still has back pain from being kicked many times and still finds it difficult to work.
Nyut Nyut Tin, a member of the National League for Democracy in Pegu about 80 km north of Rangoon, was arrested three times, on August 29, October 15 and October 16.
She said that during interrogations officers pulled her hair, beat her and kicked her. She was forced to crouch in a space 1-foot square for 36 hours and received food only two times during her three-day dentention.
She was released on October 20, but the authorities came to her home each day to make sure she did not talk to the media.
"They [authorities] don't want me to talk to media, but they can not stop me," Nyut Nyut Tin said.
She said the authorities arrested her for praying at a Shwemawdaw Pagoda on a Tuesday. She said authorities believed she was praying for democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, who was born on a Tuesday. However, she said Tuesday was also the day she was born, and she was simply praying for good health.
"I think I am unlucky for being born on Tuesday, because I was badly beaten," she said.
Another woman activist, Khin Mar Lar, was arrested on September 25 while following a peaceful demonstration of monks in Mandalay. She was detained for nearly one month.
Officials at the Shwe Sar Yan interrogation centre questioned her about her views on the National Convention, the tamadaw [armed forces] and why she was involved in the demonstration, she said.
Later, she was transferred to Mandalay prison and was put in a cell for people who would be hanged. Food and water was insufficient, she said.
In prison, she met pro-democracy supporters and members of the National League for Democracy, including Win Mya Mya, a senior member of the Mandalay NLD. Win Mya Mya was keep isolated, and she is in bad health and needs medical treatment, said Khin Mar Lar.
Before her release, she was forced to sign a paper saying if she was involved in another demonstration she would be imprisoned and fined 500,000 kyat (US $377), and authorities would confiscate her household possessions.
"We have been waiting for this kind of situation for a long time since they [Burmese authorities] attacked Suu Kyi in Depayin," Khin Mar Lar said. "We are unhappy, and we are just waiting to see who will lead us again."
On May 30, 2003, a mob of junta supporters attacked Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters, killing and injuring scores of pro-democracy activists.
