On 30 March, President Thein Sein addressed the first regular session of Union Parliament.
In his speech, he said, “To safeguard the fundamental rights of citizens in line with the provisions of the constitution in the new democratic nation is high on our government’s list of priorities. We guarantee that all citizens will enjoy equal rights in terms of law, and we will reinforce the judicial pillar.”
But, now, people are suspicious with his words. The case is that Nay Myo Zin, 36, a retired Burmese military officer who works as a volunteer of ‘Blood Donation Network’ affiliated with the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), has been arrested on Saturday by the Special Branch Police in South-Dagon in Rangoon.
According to his family, the ex-army captain did not commit any crime except helping poor patients who need emergency blood transfusion. Nay Myo Zin was taken off in the middle of a street by the police but they did not give any reason of his detention.
Zin Myo Maw, wife of the detainee, said she heard that her husband was taken to Aung Thapyay detention centre in Mayangone Township in Rangoon. She could not have a message or a call by her husband since he was taken away to detention center. She said that her husband’s mobile phone had been turn off.
Nay Myo Zin was from Intake 39 of the Defence Services Academy (DSA). In 1998, he became a platoon leader in Infantry Battalion (19) in Swar township in Pegu Division. In 2003, he served as second in command of the No. 262 Military Provost Unit (Military Police) in Taung-gyi in Shan State. In 2005, he decided to quit from the service and retired in May 2005.
In 2009, he started helping some activities of the NLD youth wing. After Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s released from house arrest in last November, he involved in the NLD’s movement to some extent. He is an active member of the youth wing’s Blood Donation Network group.
According to The Irrawaddy, Nyi Nyi, one of the core members of the NLD Youth Blood-Group, said he had earlier hoped that their group would have more opportunities since a new government had been sworn in. However, now his hopes “had quickly disappeared” following the arrest of Nay Myo Zin.
“We feel very depressed about Nay Myo Zin’s arrest,” he said. “He supported us and brought his own car to work. Without him, our group faces difficulties ahead.”
The NLD’s youth blood donors’ network was established in 2009 in Rangoon. As a result of core members’ hard works, it has already organized branches in Mandalay, Magwe and Sagaing. Now, Blood-Group Network has not less than 10,000 members, as said by Nyi Nyi.
Burmese people are eagerly watching the to-do list of the Thein Sein Government due to his rhetoric inaugural speech. People are also waiting for the release of over 2,000 political prisoners as a gesture of reconciliation. But, it seems in vain because apart from releasing the old political dissidents, it starts arresting fresh political dissenters.
President Thein Sein said in his speech, “In conclusion, respecting the people’s decision to elect our government, we will try our best for Myanmar (Burma) to be able to stand as a democratic nation in the long run with justice, freedom and equality while steadfastly shouldering the State duties. At the same time I would like to urge and invite all the people to work together with the government in the interests of the nation.”
On the contrary, a blood donor’s arrest would appear to disagree with the essence of President Thein Sein’s inaugural speech. It shows there is no freedom, justice and equality. So, the capture of ex-army captain Nay Myo Zin proves clearly that Thein Sein government will not become a democratic version.
The military faction has still jealousy toward the NLD led by Aung San Suu Kyi and even did not want to recognize the basic principle of democracy – to respect each other. They think themselves so high, while they think others of no value.
http://asiancorrespondent.com/51814/burma-arrests-ex-army-officer-who-supports-opposition/
democracy for burma 