Police patrol Rangoon, security tightened near Insein prison

by Myint Maung

New Delhi (Mizzima) – There is heightened security in Rangoon with at least 30 army trucks with uniformed riot police personnel, patrolling the city on Wednesday.

The army trucks are each carrying at least 20 policemen and are patrolling various townships of Rangoon, eyewitnesses said.

“We can see about 30 to 40 army trucks carrying uniformed policemen patrolling the city. It looks like they are on high alert. They also have machine guns mounted on the trucks. They came to our township at about 3 p.m. (local time),” an eyewitness from Insein Township told Mizzima.

“Earlier, when they patrolled like they are doing now, the police would carry shields but today they had a policeman standing on the truck with a machine gun mounted on the hood,” he added.

Another local resident said he had seen about three army trucks, full of riot police, patrolling downtown Rangoon near the City Hall, which is one of the busiest places in town.

“They had the trucks covered with shields and had batons and guns in their hands,” he said.

A source near the Insein prison told Mizzima that the riot police No. (8) have been relocated and repositioned near the Insein prison.

Some of the townships, where eyewitnesses saw army trucks patrolling include San Chuang and Dagon South.

The reason for the sudden tightening of security, however, remains unknown but some believe it could be because of the United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who reportedly is planning to visit the country later this week.

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Five Political Prisoners Placed in ‘Dog Cells’

By MIN LWIN
The Irrawaddy News

Five political prisoners have been held in specials punishment cells, known as “dog cells,” and banned from receiving family visits since May 11 in Insein Prison in Rangoon, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) (AAPP), based in Thailand.

The AAPP said the reason for the severe punishment is not known.

Naing Naing, a member of parliament-elect; Soe Han and Aung Naing of the National League for Democracy party; Lwin Ko Latt, a member of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions; and Sandimar, a senior abbot were named as recipients of the harsh punishment.

The AAPP said that Naing Naing suffers from a hernia and hypertension, and Soe Han, a lawyer, has eye problems. Their families have been banned from visiting and have been unable to provide them with essential medicines. The families are very worried for the health of their loved ones.

Naing Naing, 67, also known as Saw Naing Naing, from Pazuntong Township was arrested on September 14, 2000 and charged with threatening national security and violating publishing restrictions. He was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment.

Soe Han, arrested on September 14, 2000 and charged with the same offences was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment.

Due to inadequate healthcare provisions in prisons across the country, political prisoners depend on family members to bring medicines and other essential items.

The ruling military government has not allowed the International Committee of the Red Cross to conduct prison visits since November 2005.

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Aung San Suu Kyi trial update: 12.55pm

DVB *UPDATES ARE IN BURMESE TIME*

12.55pm: Diplomats from Britain, Australia, France, Germany and Italy have been denied entry to Insein prison.

Spectators gathered on bridge near to Insein prison.

NLD members attempting to enter Insein prison, and were rejected. Numbers of reporters also denied entry to the prison.

Two people arrested near Insein prison around 8.30am today. Unconfirmed reports say they have been released.

12pm: A United States consul was sent to Insein prison this morning to observe the court hearing of US citizen John William Yettaw, who is being tried on trespassing charges for intruding on Aung San Suu Kyi's compound.

"He was able to enter the compound for observation," said Drake Weisert, deputy Public Affairs spokesperson at the American Embassy in Rangoon.

"We haven't got a word back yet of what he observed inside there."

12.20pm: Journalists outside of Burma have reported difficulties in contacted mobile phones on the ground inside Burma, while reporters in Rangoon say that many phone lines have been cut since Sunday.

11.50pm: All the roads surrounding Insein prison have been blocked with barbed wire and there is a heavy armed police presence.

Militia group Swan Arr Shin and the Union Solidarity and Development Association are also in the area, according to eye witnesses.

Witnesses say that nearby Insein township market was also ordered to close down at 11am this morning by the police and municipal authorities.

Stores and tea shops near the prison have been closed since yesterday.

Armed police members have been deployed inside compounds of nearby monasteries and pagodas while about 20 riot police trucks were seen in the area surrounding the prison.

National League for Democracy (NLD) members who are in the area closely watching the situation said a United States' embassy vehicle was seen entering the prison compounds, and has now left. Suu Kyi's lawyers have also entered the prison.

Family members of inmates inside the prison say no family visits are allowed today.

NLD members said there were around 300 spectators near the prison.

READ MORE---> Aung San Suu Kyi trial update: 12.55pm...

Hundreds Gather as Suu Kyi Trial Starts

By SAW YAN NAING
The Irrawaddy News

Hundreds of people, including members of Burma’s opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) gathered outside Rangoon’s Insein Prison on Monday morning as the trial of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi got under way in a special court.

The ambassadors of four European countries were refused entry to the prison to attend the trial, reported the AFP news agency, quoting an unnamed diplomat.

A Police car near Insein Prison on Monday (Photo: The Irrawaddy)

Suu Kyi’s lawyer, Kyi Win, said he planned to ask for the trial to be held in public. Suu Kyi is also being represented by lawyers Khin Htay Kywe and Nyan Win.

Kyi Win said 22 prosecution witnesses, including police officers, would be called. He said Suu Kyi’s family doctor, Tin Myo Win, who was arrested by Burmese authorities the day after the discovery that an American intruder had entered her house, would not be called to give evidence.

Tin Myo Win was freed by Burmese authorities on Saturday, a member of his family reported.

The American intruder also reportedly went on trial on Monday, but no details were officially disclosed.

Suu Kyi faces a sentence of up to five years imprisonment if found guilty of violating the terms of her house arrest by allegedly harboring the American.

Rangoon sources reported that security had been stepped up around Insein Prison and on roads leading to the area. Shopkeepers in the immediate area had also been ordered by the authorities to close their premises. Phone lines were cut, the sources said.

NLD member Kyin Toe said security forces had been deployed around the homes of opposition members, including his own. Some NLD members reported their movements were being followed by security agents.

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Security Increased around Insein Prison

By MIN LWIN
The Irrawaddy News

Increased security forces, including firefighters, members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) and Swan Arr Shin, have been stationed around Rangoon’s infamous Insein prison, following the imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday.

An estimated two dozen people gathered at the prison on Friday morning seeking information about Suu Kyi. They were ordered to leave the area by security guards.

“Since yesterday morning, the security troops have deployed heavily in northern Rangoon and Insein Township,” said a source close to Insein Prison.

After the Burmese military government brought Aung San Suu Kyi from her lakeside house to Insein Prison, she was charged with violating the conditions of her house arrest.

A US citizen, John William Yettaw, 53, of Falcon, Missouri, swam across Inya Lake to Aung San Suu Kyi’s lakeside resident where he stayed two nights last week, according to authorities. It is against the law in Burma for nationals to allow foreigners to stay overnight without approval from authorities.

According to sources in Insein Township, located in the northwest outskirts of Rangoon, additional security forces are posted around government buildings and monasteries near the prison, which houses many pro-democracy activists.

“Police, soldiers, firefighters and uniformed Swan-Arr-Shin have been stationed at Eight mile Junction and Thamine Junction and on the outskirts of the city,” said a Rangoon resident said.

“They [USDA and Swan-Arr-Shin] are stationed along the streets in Insein wards,” she said. “They stop taxis, cars and passersby, and they inspect them carefully.”

She said that plainclothes police and USDA members are going around check on the overnight guests’ list in various wards.

Sources in Rangoon said that people are flocking to Internet shops to try to get more news and information about Suu Kyi’s trial from exiled media Web sites. The trial may get underway on Monday, according to sources. Suu Kyi, her doctor, two caretakers and Yettaw are all charged with violating state security laws.

“The government is making people angry, and most people don’t believe that Daw Suu is guilty,” said a Rangoon-based reporter. “The government is manipulating the events again to put her in jail.”

“Many people, even when they go for walk, have a radio and listen for information about Daw Suu,” he said. “I saw trishaw drivers in a circle listening for news.”

Meanwhile, Internet service has been unreliable in Burma recently, with connections going on and off.

“Normally, Internet users go to chat rooms and talk, but now they read quietly about Daw Suu,” said one Internet user in downtown Rangoon.

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