Activists accuse military of illegal midnight raids

Aug 27, 2007 (DVB)—The families of several political activists accused the Burmese authorities yesterday of conducting illegal midnight raids on their houses in response to recent protests.

Ma May Zun Oo, the wife of 88 Generation Student and protest leader Ko Aung Naing, said a group of about 30 men led by Thingangyan township chairman U Soe Win forced their way into her house at midnight on Friday.

“They knocked on our door saying that they wanted to check our guest registration . . . After I unlocked the door a number of people stormed into the house,” Ma May Zun Oo said.

“Some went into our bedroom straight away and started searching for something but they couldn’t find anything they wanted. Afterwards I heard them telephoning their seniors and saying they had ‘missed their Thingangyun target,” she said.

Another group of men, also led by U Soe Win, reportedly forced their way into the home of National League for Democracy member Ma Khin Htar Yee on Saturday night, according to her sister Ma Khin Htar Oo.

Ma Khin Htar Oo told DVB that the officials who searched her home had also claimed to want to check her guest registration forms.

“We opened the gate for U Soe Win and then he signalled for about 30 or 40 people who were hiding in the street to storm our compound . . . They thoroughly searched our house for documents and seized a number of things,” Ma Khin Htar Oo said.

Ma May Zun Oo also complained of having several pieces of personal property seized by the officials, including photos of her husband, the guest list for her wedding and the battery charger for her mobile phone.

U Aung Thein, a lawyer with the NLD, said yesterday that under Burmese law searches could only take place when they were conducted by police with a warrant.

“They need to proper legal documents before they can raid someone’s house like that,” U Aung Thein said.

Reporting by Naw Say Phaw