Burma army troops assault Kachin village headman

BURMESE TROOPS WHO ARE SECURING MYITKYINA, THE CAPITAL OF KACHIN STATE.

Relatives for Ura Naw Lawn, a village headman in central Kachin state's Myitkyina township, say he was severely beaten last Thursday April 19 by a group of Burma army soldiers.

Lawn, village headman for the Aung Mingalar quarter of Sinbo, was detained by soldiers from Infantry Battalion No. 141 while he was riding a motorbike on his way to a farm near Sinbo.

The troops accused Lawn of being a member of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO). He was then harshly interrogated by a group of soldiers that included 141 battalion chief Major Tun Aung Kyaw.

According to his relatives Lawn's interrogators repeatedly ignored his claims that he had no ties with the KIO and in fact was a government appointed village headman. The troops proceeded to severely physically assault him for denying he was part of the KIO.

Lawn was eventually released and given 90,000 Kyat, apparently after troops realized he was actually a village headman. The 37-year-old was left with a broken nose and major wounds to his neck, back and head. He also continues to vomit blood and appears to be suffering from serious internal injuries, according to his family.

Soldiers forbid Naw Lawn from going to Myitkyina hospital
Doctors at the Sinbo Hospital have recommended that Lawn be sent to Myitkyina Hospital to receive further medical treatment. Despite releasing him, the army has forbidden Lawn to travel to Myitkyina.

Lawn's relatives say he was told that if he travels to Myitkyina, as he has been medical advised to do, Lawn will be charged in a military court. Lawn is presently recovering at home unable to receive the vital treatment he needs.