The History of the Detention of Pu Chin Sian Thang

The History of the Detention of Pu Chin Sian Thang

The History of the Detention of Pu Chin Sian Thang due to his struggle for Democracy and Human Rights

Compiled under the permission of Pu Chin Sian Thang,
by Zomi National Congress (New Generation)
April 2003

Pu Chin Sian Thang, a graduate from Rangoon University in Law degrees (B.A., B.A.(Law)., L.L.B), started his political movement since he was in his student life. He attended the historic Taung-gyi Conference (so called second Panglong Conference) as a leader of student union. He is a pro-democracy activist and a strong opponent of Burma Socialist Program Party and Ne Win dictatorship. The detention by brutal dictator began in his life as early as one party system was introduced in Burma.

1. October 30, 1972 to March 3, 1974 : Ye-Kyi-Aing Military Intelligence Detention Camp, Yangon.

March 4, 1974 to August 24, 1994 : transferred to Mandalay Jail, Mandalay.

When the draft of Ne Win constitution was revealed to the public to solicit their opinion, Pu Chin Sian Thang submitted his Federal Suggestions that resulted him of his first detention.

2. March 12, 1992 to March 19, 192 : Kalemyo & Yangon.

Being an elected member of parliament, a prominent ethnic leader and the president of Zomi National Congress, Pu Chin Sian Thang had been under tight surveillance by military intelligence since the general election. While he was living in fear at his home in Kalemyo, the time was up for him to become a victim of the brutality of military intelligence at 4:00am early in the morning on March 12, 1994. He was brought down to Yangon and interrogated inhumanely. He was then released from detention without any charge at Yangon on March 19, 1992.

3. May 10, 1993 to June 1, 1993 : Kalemyo.

When the military government was trying to abolish the political parties, Pu Chin Sian Thang was put under house arrest. He was forced to report his presence and remain silence from political movement to the officer concerned of Military Intelligence 17th battalion in Kalemyo, once at 8:00am and once at 5:00pm every day. And he was not only barred from practicing his law career but also doing business for the living. The economic and financial hardship in his daily life had begun since then.

4. October 10, 1996 to October 24, 1996 : Kalemyo.

Due to his continuous struggle for Democracy and Human Rights, again he was detained by Military Intelligence 17th battalion on October 10, 1996 in Kalemyo where he underwent many kinds of ill-treatment. His health became deteriorated due to the torture.

5. September 6, 1998 to March 14, 1999 : Yangon.

After the formation of the Committee Representing the People’s Parliament (CRPP) by the leaders of NLD, SNLD, MNDF, ADL and Zomi National Congress party, Pu Chin Sian Thang was detained on September 6, 1998 at the army 220th battalion, Yemon. He was then transferred to the 9½-mile Military Intelligence quarter where he was isolated from the public and outside world. He was not allowed to listen radio, nor read news paper. His family had no single chance to meet him and even to know his where about. Due to the immoral treatment and living condition, he got kidney trouble and further health deterioration. He had to be then released to undergo medical treatment at Sakura Clinic in Yangon.

6. November 3, 1999 to June 15, 2001 : Yangon.

A meeting took place on October 16, 1999 at UNDP office, between the ethnic leaders including Pu Chin Sian Thang and Mr. Alvaro De Soto, the Assistant Secretary-General of the UN was the reason why Pu Chin Sian Thang was interrogated and detained again on November 3, 1999. He was detained again in the 9½-mile Military Intelligence quarter (so called guest house by the military government) where he was isolated to prevent him from continuing the movement for Democracy and Human Rights. Though the military government claimed that he was kept for discussion, no one had approached him and asked his political opinion. As usual he was not allowed to listen radio, nor read news paper. He was not treated as a political leader, and he was rather treated as a prisoner. The pressure from UN Secretary-General’s special envoy to the military government helped him to meet his family once a month, and finally he had to be released on June 15, 2001.