BurmaNet News November 15, 2005

[Editor]

November 15, 2005 Issue # 2845

INSIDE BURMA
DVB: Some Burmese civil servants refuse to go to Pyinmana
Financial Times: Burma defends move out of Rangoon
Irrawaddy: Further divisions in Kachin State
Narinjara: Rice transportation between townships in Arakan State banned
S.H.A.N.: Junta keeps crowding

ON THE BORDER
Irrawaddy: Burmese migrant worker in Bangkok suspected bird flu victim
DVB: Burmese Network for Democracy and Development elects first woman chair
Network Media Group: Child-beggars: victims of human traffickers

HEALTH/AIDS
Narinjara: Increase drug use in Arakan causes AIDS concern

DRUGS
Thai Press: Officers on alert to foil planned trafficking of large-scale
drugs

ASEAN
New Straits Times Press: Bush keen to meet Asean leaders

OPINION / OTHER
Al-Jazeerah : Hopes still miserable for the people of Burma

PRESS RELEASE
BCN: New demonstration at Total petrol station in The Netherlands
AHRC: District court throws out appeals by Burmese human rights defender
and teacher

____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

November 13, Democratic Voice of Burma
Some Burmese civil servants refuse to go to Pyinmana

Some Burmese civil servants who are still in Rangoon, were reported as
saying that they are not going to move to Pyinmana Kyappyay region in
central Burma with their ministries which have been relocated there
recently.

At the same time, local residents at Pyinmana have been saying among
themselves that the junta has declared Pyinmana the capital of Burma. They
said that roads have been repaired and parking spaces and the numbers of
buses and trains to and fro the two cities have been increased.

According to a report by AFP, the relocation of government ministries to
Pyinmana caused the price of commodity to rise and some workers moved to
the city. But the constructions of new buildings at Kyappyay haven’t gone
smoothly and relocated civil servants are sleeping rough in half built
buildings in groups, causing them untold despairs and miseries.

A civil servant in Rangoon told DVB that some of her friends have been
crying all the time and unable to carry out their official duties. She
added that apart from those who have close connections with the army, the
civil servants are barred from quitting their jobs. Some of them are told
that their salaries would be increased six folds if they move to Pyinmana
but they still refuse to go as they are afraid to be away from their
families.

_____________________________________

November 15, Financial Times
Burma defends move out of Rangoon - Amy Kazmin

Burma’s military junta predicted on Monday that history would vindicate
its controversial decision to relocate the country’s long-time capital
from Rangoon to a remote town in central Burma, saying the move was “in
the interests of the nation and the people”.

In his first interview with an international newspaper since the
government unexpectedly began moving the capital last week,
Brigadier-General Kyaw Hsan, the information minister, told the Financial
Times the move would facilitate better supervision of national
development, especially in border areas where armed ethnic militias still
have strong influence.

“The future will surely stand as evidence that the decision made now is
right and correct,” he said, in the formal sitting room of the dilapidated
colonial-era building that currently houses the Information Ministry, but
will soon be left largely empty.

The minister said the military regime – shunned as a virtual pariah by
many western countries , especially the US – was “making development
endeavours in all parts of the country, including those border areas, with
accelerated momentum”.

Yet from Rangoon, “it’s difficult to reach the northern part of the
country overnight or within a day”, he said. “Similarly its difficult to
reach the eastern part, or western part of the country from Rangoon within
a day.”


>From Pyinmana, in central Burma, he said, “it’s easy, and convenient to

reach all parts of the country. It is the junction of all transportation
lines – railways, motor roads, and airlines”.

Even as he spoke members of his staff were busy packing and preparing for
their imminent move.

According to reports from civil servants who have already moved, the new
capital is still unfinished, and many have complained of hardships in the
new location, including inadequate food and water, and separation from
families.

But Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan denied officials were moving to the equivalent of a
large construction site, saying they would have “no problem” in their new
homes.

“All the necessary facilities are being arranged for those service
personnel who will come along to the new capital,” he said.

“Houses, office and apartments are already constructed in that area, and
also electricity, transportation and communication are all established.”

Though the cash-strapped military government struggles to find resources
to meet critical health and welfare needs of its deeply impoverished
population, Brig Gen Kyaw Hsan declined to say how much the regime had
spent on the huge project, dismissing the figure as “not that important”.

“What is important is necessary considerations about the budget deficit,
and income and outcome balance,” he said.

He also dismissed concerns that the move would exacerbate difficulties of
Rangoon-based international non-governmental organisations, United Nations
agencies, diplomats and the businesses that need to communicate or
interact with the government.

“They can make contact with Pyinmana through fax, phone, e-government and
all the modern facilities,” he said.

_____________________________________

November 15, Irrawaddy
Further divisions in Kachin State

A newly-minted opposition splinter group in Kachin State has further
divided after the leader of the still unnamed group, Col Lasang Awng Wa,
approved an offer by the Burmese junta to relocate to a new territory.
Disagreements over the projected move have led to about one-third of the
group’s approximately 300 members to remain behind. A senior member of the
group, N’Hkum Doi La, told The Irrawaddy today by phone: “They are moving
to a new region, but not us.”

According to N’Hkum Doi La, a majority of the group has agreed to follow
Col Lasang Awng Wa in relocating to Ja Htu Pa, near the Kachin capital of
Myitkyina, east to the Irrawaddy River. The move followed discussions
between the group and the Burmese junta over the last several months.
Rangoon has reportedly offered guarantees of security and support to the
new group—including semi-autonomy—if the new group remains unaffiliated
with other armed opposition groups in the region.

According to N’Hkum Doi La, the junta has taken responsibility for
planning the move, and even provided Col Lasang Awng Wa with 10 tractors
and five cars. However, N’Hkum Doi La suggested that the group would fall
under the control of the Burmese army, and said that he and the remaining
members plan to join up with the New Democratic Army-Kachin. The splinter
group led by Lasang Awng Wa separated from the Kachin Independence
Organization after the group’s former intelligence chief was accused of
planning a coup at the KIO headquarter early last year.

_____________________________________

November 15, Narinjara News
Rice transportation between townships in Arakan State banned

Transportation of rice between Arakanese townships is now illegal and
those caught transporting it will be severely punished, according to an
official directive handed down by the State Peace and Development Council
(SPDC) to local administrative officials in Arakan state.

The directive was issued by the President of the SPDC, who is also the
supreme military commander. The directive is for both military and
civilian township authorities.

The ban on rice transportation comes right at harvest time, with a local
rice trader from Akyab commenting that the move is a case of the SPDC
aiming to control the country’s most important agricultural product.

“The ban has been in place since the junta came to power”, says another
trader from Arakan, who is currently in Bangladesh, “but this latest
directive signifies the junta’s desire for stricter control. Up until now,
the ban has not been very effective, since rice could be transported
successfully by bribing the local authorities. Maybe the State Chief wants
to put a stop to this illegal movement, or it could also be the case that
state authorities want to keep the price of rice under control, so they
can buy it cheaply to supply the army.”

Last year, the state purchased many tons of rice at a lower-than-market
price in order to supply the army, just after it announced its original
ban on the transportation of rice.

Due to the ban, the price of rice is now quite volatile in Arakan’s
townships. Rice farmers now worry that they will not earn enough income
due to the impact of this new directive
____________________________________


November 15, Shan Herald Agency for News
Junta keeps crowding

Recent forced surrender of some of its members and the raid on the home of
the commander of its strongest brigade were the latest blows to the
deteriorating relations between the ceasefire group Shan State Army and
Rangoon, according to sources from the north.

Some 90 SSA 'North' members from the Third Brigade that had withdrawn from
its operational area north of the Mandalay-Lashio highway were forced to
surrender during last month, said a ceasefire officer. "They had been
assigned to square out unfinished affairs until the end of the year," he
complains. "It was with the agreement of the Burma Army. But no agreement
including Panglong (1947) doesn't seem to mean anything to them."

On 8 November, Captain Htun Kyi, the SSA's representative in Kyaukme was
taken into custody for failure to comply with the order to surrender.

The unkindest blow, they said, was on Sunday, 13 November, when the home
in Wanpong, Mongyai township, of Col Pangfah, concurrently Chief of Staff
of the SSA and Commander of the 2,000 strong First Brigade, was set upon
by a joint military-police raiding party that ransacked the house and left
after taking into custody two of the members. Col Pangfah was not at home
at the time.

Pangfah was not available for comment. But one of his aides told S.H.A.N.,
"We used to be lectured about easing up one's military objectives while
one is pushing hard its political objectives and vice versa. But the junta
appears to be following a new dictum of pushing both the political and
military objectives simultaneously.

"Which in practice means we have to attend their National Convention and
agree to whatever they say. At the same time, they also want us to
surrender our arms."

The latest developments took place right after the Rangoon court sentenced
Shan leaders including Hkun Htun Oo to 93 years imprisonment and Maj-Gen
Hso Ten to 106 years.

The majority, according to the sources, are opting to fight. "It doesn't
matter whether we win or lose," says one. "But at least we are going to
die like men." However, cooler heads as well as those in neighboring
countries are counseling that the group had started it (together with 12
other ceasefire groups to present their federalist stand that had received
much approval from the international community), now it needs to come to
the end of it.

The National Convention that begin in 1993 will resume its next session on
5 December.
"The only good news is that the SSA-South (commanded by the non-ceasefire
Col Yawdserk) is filling up the vacuum left by the Third Brigade," said a
businessman in Lashio.

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

November 15, Irrawaddy
Burmese migrant worker in Bangkok suspected bird flu victim - Shah Paung

A young Burmese woman migrant worker has been admitted to hospital in
Bangkok suspected of suffering from bird flu. Dr Wichai Tienthaworn,
permanent secretary at Thailand’s Public Health Ministry, told The
Irrawaddy on Tuesday that blood tests were now being carried out by the
Department of Medical Science.

The 23-year-old woman told doctors at Bangkok’s Rajavithi Hospital that
she had developed a fever after handling a dead bird in the garden of the
Bangkok home where she had been employed as a maid.

Dr Wichai said tests were now being conducted to see if the patient had
been infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus.

More than 20 people in Thailand have been diagnosed with bird flu since
the outbreak of the disease in 2003. Thirteen of them have died.

In the latest confirmed case, announced on November 11, an 18-month-old
boy was diagnosed as suffering from the virulent H5N1 strain, while two
suspected cases were discovered earlier this week in Bangkok’s Lat Krabang
and Min Buri districts.

In Indonesia, the Health Ministry announced on Monday that a 20-year-old
woman had died there from bird flu. The H5N1 bird flu virus has so far
claimed the lives of more than 60 victims in Asia.

In Thailand, Myint Wai of Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma
said the organization was trying to help the Burmese woman in Rajavithi
Hospital contact her family.

____________________________________

November 11, Democratic Voice of Burma
Burmese Network for Democracy and Development elects first woman chair

An exiled pro-democracy Burmese activist group, Network for Democracy and
Development (NDD), elected Khin Ohn Mar as its first chairwoman during its
second conference held at an unidentified location on the Thai-Burma
border.

At the conference which was held from 5 to 8 November, members reassessed
their direction and aims. The NDD was formed in 2001 and it held the first
conference in 2003.

When asked if the new chairwoman would be as 'effective' as the old
chairman, former chair Kyaw Kyaw told DVB that the group was formed with
the policy that at least 30% of the leading positions must be reserved for
women.

“When our organisation carries out our policies, it is more important to
institutionalise rather than personalise,” Kyaw Kyaw insisted. “Whether it
is led by a woman or a man, it is more important that the capability of
that person is more important.”

Khin Ohn Mar expressed her pride and joy for being given the duty to lead
the organisation with trust and confidence, and she vowed to expand the
participation of Burmese women in political organisations.

“I want to say that I am ready to carry out my duty with confidence and
courage. As it is a (unusual) case of a woman leading a political
organisation, there will be much scrutinising. But I am not worried. I
have been carrying out my duties during 17 years of my time in political
organisations and women organisations and I will fulfil my duties. As I
was elected by members with their full confidence in me, I am ready to
take my responsibility bravely.

During five years of its existence, the NDD was able to educate and
promote political awareness among pro-democracy and ethnic national
groups, and rally the international community for the emergence of
democracy in Burma.

____________________________________

November 15, Network Media Group
Child-beggars: victims of human traffickers

Trafficking in children is increasing at an alarming rate in the
China-Burma border areas. Some child-beggars were stolen recently.

A resident who helped parents who lost their children said that two or
three parents told him that the incident occurred at the bus terminal
where a group of beggars usually sit. A three-year old girl was stolen a
couple of days ago and another three-year old boy was lost.

Residents from Shweli-Muse towns reported that the human traffickers in
the China-Burma border sell a child for 30,000 Yuan (over Kyat 400,000).
The gang forced the children to work and also help in drug trafficking.
When the children grow up they are used as farm hands.

The child beggars from Burma are useful for drug trafficking. The children
have to go to Muse town for this. Some children from Shan villages are
also used for drug trafficking.

Residents said that the traffickers steal children from inside Burma and
sell them in the border areas while some drug addicted parents and poor
parents sell their children.

Some children from beggar families who take shelter at night in old
buildings, on sidewalks, and suburbs of the China side, have been stolen.

There are about 50 children who work as beggars at Kyaegaung and Shweli
towns. Almost all of them are from the middle and lower parts of Burma.

____________________________________
HEALTH/AIDS

November 15, Narinjara News
Increase drug use in Arakan causes AIDS concern for leading Arakanese
political party

The Arakan League for Democracy, in a Bangladesh Branch Statement released
on November 11, has voiced concerns about a possible AIDS endemic
spreading through Arakan State in Burma, due to a marked increase in drug
use.

According to the statement, during the last six months, 17 people have
died from AIDS related illness in Akyab alone, while a further 26 people
have been identified as HIV positive this year. Those identified as HIV
positive were done so after donating blood.

The president of the Bangladesh Branch, U Ani Maung, told Narinjara News
that he is worried about health care conditions in Arakan State and the
rising number of people testing positive to HIV. He also criticized the
military junta for not having the will to deal effectively with the AIDS
problem, with no educational program in place to inform people of the
looming danger.

Since there has been no proper survey carried out on AIDS victims in
Arakan, information about the disease is scarce.

In the statement, the ALD blamed increased drug use among Arakanese youth
as the cause of the AIDS spread.

U Ani Maung also says that the military has taken no measure to quell
illicit drug use, because army and police officers are making money by
reselling seized drugs instead of destroying them.

The ALD claims that many soldiers based in Arakan State who have recently
returned from their postings along the Burma-Thai border used funds gained
from the sale of illicit drugs to cover their travel costs.

With the widespread availability of drugs, and the AIDS endemic at the
verge of explosion, the dual problems of drugs and AIDS are now
threatening regional stability.

____________________________________
DRUGS

November 15, Thai Press Reports
Officers on alert to foil planned trafficking of large-scale drugs during
Loy Krathong Festival

Thai Police in this northernmost province have tightened their patrol
following intelligence reports that several million speed pills from Laos
and Myanmar will be smuggled into Thailand during the upcoming Loy
Krathong festival.

Tourists entering or leaving for Myanmar and Laos from this province are
being watched closely by police to prevent drug traffickers--disguised as
tourists--from smuggling drugs into the country, police said.

The tightening of patrols along the border and setting up more road
checkpoints came after Chiang Rai police apprehended major drug
traffickers and seized more than 300,000 speed pills during the past
month.

Police said several million speed pills are now waiting to be smuggled
into Thailand from Myanmar and Laos for the Loy Krathong festival, as the
seasonal rain had stopped and it is now easier to smuggle drugs.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Krissana Polanant, Secretary General of the Office of the
Narcotics Control Board, while inspecting drug trafficking routes along
the border in Chiang Rai recently said that there are at least five drug
manufacturing plants established near the common border.

____________________________________
ASEAN

November 15, New Straits Times Press
Bush keen to meet Asean leaders – Kang Siew Li

US President George W. Bush has requested to meet with the Association of
South-East Asian Nations (Asean) leaders on the sidelines of the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit here.

The Korea Times, quoting Vietnam's Apec delegates, said Bush will meet
with seven Asean heads of government, including Malaysia's, who will be in
this South Korean port city for the Apec Economic Leaders' Meeting, which
is scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

Leaders from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos will not be attending the Asean-US
meeting as the three countries are not members of Apec.

The Asean-US meeting is expected to take place on Friday, one day after
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's arrival here.

The Asean-US meeting will be a new addition to Bush's schedule as it has
been reported that the US leader will be holding talks with his
counterparts from Japan, South Korea, China and Mongolia during the week.

These talks are aimed mostly at advancing US interests and maintaining
ties without reaching specific agreements, except in the case of steps to
address the bird flu threat.

Meanwhile, the run-up to the discussions involving the 21 economies of
Apec is gathering pace as foreign and trade ministers of the member states
start arriving here for tomorrow's ministerial meeting.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and International Trade and
Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz arrived separately here
yesterday.

They will join other ministers from the Apec countries at the two-day
ministerial meeting to deliberate on recommendations made by Apec senior
officials at their concluding meeting which wound up on November 13.

The recommendations include reviewing past achievements of the Bogor
Action Plan and laying out a road map for their future tasks. This road
map will then be endorsed by the Apec leaders at their meeting.

The Bogor Action Plan was adopted in 1994, under which developed member
economies aim to achieve free and open trade and investment by 2010 and
developing member economies by 2020.

Syed Hamid, Rafidah and other ministers are also expected to discuss
international cooperation to control avian influenza or bird flu.

They will also finalise a special statement to promote progress in the
on-going World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks under the Doha Development
Agenda in the run-up to WTO's ministerial meeting in Hong Kong next month.

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

November 12, Al-Jazeerah
Hopes still miserable for the people of Burma - Mohammad Sadek

For the last couples of weeks, the Burmese dissident communities and Burma
watchers have been circulating with rumor for political reforms in Burma
with an un anonymous resolution of the UN Security Council, that is still
in miserable the hopes for the people of Burma.

The State Peace & Development Council (SPDC), the military regime is
hoping of supports and veto from its deed career China and Russia who used
the same power in the last meet of the United Nations Security Council
(UNSC), while aspirations of the people for a binding resolution is
urgently needed as per the calls of Vaclav Havel and Desmond Tutu for the
UNSC’s intention on Burma.

But the possibility of the UNSC’s intervention is still not confirmed that
created a roaming doubt to the Burmese who have been suffered enough under
the military ruler. So, they need positive signals from the world leaders.

The United States and European Union have already imposed sanctions on
Burma to ensure the hopes of the people while the honorable persons have
released a commissioned report on its victims of human rights abuses. Last
year, the UN Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan expressed his concern over
the slow space of democratic reforms and junta’s failure to free Suu Kyi.
He also said with the then spokesman of Royal Thai Government that
“Thailand as neighboring country must find the right way to help a! chieve
this”.

But now, it is still a matter of surprising that the junta has given
little attention on its concern about the consequences of persecuting its
people and detaining hundreds of democracy activists without so much as
trial. This junta has strong believe that the world cannot act against it
by any mean as it has the supports from China, Russia, whilst neighboring
India, Bangladesh, and members of ASEAN are its realistic partners from
economic ties and the development of trade and commence in the region.

It may be mentioned that if the Security Council takes up the Burmese
issue, it would be good for the region. The neighboring countries and
members of ASEAN would support the UNSC to take up the issue. Otherwise,
the international community should act against the partners of regime for
the cause of all Burmese people, who are the victims of gross human rights
violation, especially ethnic minorities of whom the Rohingyas of Arakan
State are in the worst position.

To avoid the resolution, the Burmese junta has signaled the International
Labor Organization, a UN body, to withdraw its presence. Whatever, the
world leaders and international community would be careful of junta’s
human rights abuses. Otherwise, Burmese people would stay in subhuman
condition with their untold suffering.

It is clear that the junta is very busy to tarnish the fate of Burmese
people, moving the capital to a new place (Pyinmanna) and lengthy
imprisonment to ethnic political leaders. These actions are entirely
against the SPDC’s slogan to so-called “Roadmap to Disciplined Democracy”
and “National Unity” under the voices of “Non-disintegration of the
Union”, “Non-disintegration of national unity” and “Rule of Law” etc.

This is the best time to act against junta and to free Suu Kyi, a Noble
Peace Laureate and democracy icon, U Tin Oo, U Hku Htun Oo, the Chairman
of Shan National League for Democracy (SNLD), Maj-Gen. Hso Ten, the
groups’ supreme leader of Shan and other political prisoners including
Rohingyas’ hero U Kyaw Min, an elected MP and a member of Committee
Representing for People’s Parliament (CRPP) to ensure the hopes of people
and to restore democracy and human rights in Burma.

So that the year 2006 is the appropriate time for the political reforms in
Burma and that may be count in the year of peace for all people of the
world. Ð

* Writer is the General Secretary of the Rohingya Youth Development Forum
(RYDF), Arakan-Burma and the freelance j! ournalist on Burma and its
people, especially Arakan and its people Rohingya

____________________________________
PRESS RELEASE

November 15, Burma Center Netherlands
New demonstration at Total petrol station in The Netherlands

Today Burma Center Netherlands (BCN) and the Burmese community in the
Netherlands have organized a protest demonstration at a Total petrol
station in Amsterdam. BCN and the Burmese community in the Netherlands
protest against Total’s support for the Burmese dictatorial regime. In the
last couple of months demonstrations have been organized in some 8
different Dutch cities. New public protests against Total are planned for
the next few weeks.

 Last May, BCN published the first Dutch language report about Total’s
controversial investments in Burma. The 60 page report (“Total
Totalitair”) explains in detail the negative financial, social and
environmental impacts of Total’s gas exploitation in Burma.

 On 1st April, BCN started the Dutch campaign against Total with a large
demonstration in front of Total’s Dutch headquarter. The Dutch campaign
has the support of some 20 Dutch companies, trade unions and ngo’s, and
is part of the worldwide campaign against Total’s investments in Burma
which started in Spring 2005.

 BCN will continue its campaign until Total stops its investments in Burma
and announces that it will not start any new investments in this country,
according to the wishes of the Burmese opposition party NLD, Burma’s
trade union FTUB and several ethnic minorities in Burma.

____________________________________

November 15, Asian Human Rights Commission
District court throws out appeals by Burmese human rights defender and
teacher

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) yesterday condemned the South
Rangoon District Court's summary rejections of recent appeals against the
jailing of human rights defender Ma Su Su Nwe and a private tuition
teacher.

Ma Su Su Nwe, 34, was sentenced to 20 months in prison on October 13 for
spurious charges of abusing and intimidating local government officials,
despite her chronic heart condition.

In another case, Burmese teacher U Aung Pe also saw his appeal against a
jail sentence for holding illegal tuition classes thrown out on October
24. His lawyer said that the judge wrote the dismissal as he was arguing
the case.

"The cursory manner in which the judges disposed of the cases suggests
that the petitioners were not given the right to a fair hearing in
accordance with international standards, and that the judges were acting
under instructions to dismiss the appeals," the Hong Kong-based rights
group said in an appeal.

"The summary dismissal of court hearings in cases of international
interest and corresponding growth in litigation against complainants in
cases of alleged forced labour in [Burma] will do nothing to improve [the]
country's dismal international standing and reputation," the AHRC further
warned.

On January, Ma Su Su Nwe obtained the first successful conviction for
forced labour in Burma against government officials of Kawmhu Township,
Yangon Division. She was supported in her efforts by the liaison office of
the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in the country.

The new local government head, U Kyaw Lwin, took retaliatory legal action
against her, claiming that she had abused and threatened him and other
local council members.

She was found guilty and sent immediately to the notorious central Insein
prison. According to sources close to the case, the authorities are still
denying her medicine for her chronic heart disease.

Ma Su Su Nwe's lawyers appealed the conviction, but Judge Daw Nang Sanda
San threw out the appeal on November 4 without giving any reason.

The lawyers have said that they will appeal to a higher court. However, a
Burmese lawyer in contact with the AHRC has opined that as the district
court rejected the application so quickly it is unlikely to succeed at a
higher level.

Although U Aung Pe was jailed on charges of giving illegal tuition, a
widespread but unregulated practice in Burma, his real affront was
reportedly leading his English class students in paying respect to an
image of national independence hero General Aung San, father of democracy
leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

It has also been reported that on September 30 a jail gang that the
authorities use to intimidate prisoners beat up U Aung Pe.