Win Tin praises NLD prayer meetings

Oct 15, 2008 (DVB)–Women and youth members of the National League for Democracy offered prayers for the release of political prisoners and gave donations to monks and nuns at party headquarters yesterday.

Aye Aye Mar of the NLD central women’s committee said that the party members were under close watch by the authorities as they made their offerings.

Similar activities were carried out at pagodas in Bago, Meikhtila and elsewhere in Burma.

Senior NLD member Win Tin, who was released from detention last month after more than 19 years behind bars, praised the women and youth members for their activities.

"It's very, very good because we cannot just keep our heads down everywhere,” he said.

“We have to do what we can, including things like prayer meetings, to show that we are still active.”

Win Tin also condemned the intimidation of NLD members by the authorities and restrictions preventing them from offering prayer for the release of prisoners at the pagodas.

"This kind of restriction is very oppressive,” Win Tin said.

“Why can't we pray for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at the pagoda? We have the right to demand the freedom of someone,” he said.

“It is not a rebellion, it is not a protest, and the pagoda is not theirs. It belongs to everyone and everyone has the right to pray there."

Reporting by Khin Hnin Htet