Burma: Detentions continue. Activist fears for her children.

Thet Thet Aung (female) was one of the activists hunted down by authorities for supporting the Sangha (monks’) movement. She and her husband both supported the Sangha movement, like many others. On 10/8/07 authorities tried to arrest Thet Thet Aung and her husband (Chit Ko Lin – her husband)) near Mingalar market in Rangoon, but only her husband was arrested and she escaped. After the crackdown on the monks’ movement, she and her family with three children moved to her mother-in-law’s house near Mingala market from their house located in Sanchaung, Rangoon. On Oct. 9, authorities searched where they were staying. She wasn’t there. On Wednesday the authorities came and arrested her mother and her mother-in-law (female- 70 years old). Among the three children the youngest, is just 1 year old and not in good health. Thet Thet Aung is still in hiding. After RFA broadcast the following interview, her mother-in-law (a 70 year-old woman) was released:

Thet Thet Aung: On the 9th, they came back around 2:00 p.m. and searched until 6:00 pm. I was told that they took away my national ID card and that they wanted me. My family was asked to inform me. On the evening of the 9th, they went around and searched houses – my aunts’ houses. On the morning of the 10th, they took away my mother and my mother-in-law.

They blamed me. They said that only when I was captured would they release my mother and my mother-in-law, my parents. They said they wouldn’t release them unless I was captured.

The youngest child is only about one year and two months old. Also, the child is not a healthy one. The child had a blood transfusion at birth. The day after birth, the child’s blood was transfused, and we had to save his/her life. So, he/she needs a lot of care. The education of the children – the health of the children … the two older ones – one is eight and the other one is not quite six. They are only at those ages. I’m really concerned for their health and education. I’m also concerned for my parents and my husband. They are really inhumane. My parents – my mother is over 50. She has heart disease, high blood pressure, stomach problems and also terrible asthma. She has to be on constant medication for her asthma. She has to take her medicine day and night. My mother-in-law is over 70. I am extremely worried now for my children. I’m really worried and am thinking what I can do for them [breaks down and cries, sobs] – for my parents and my children and my husband. I’m feeling panicked. Just think about it, I’m worried for my children and my parents.