London, Sept.25 (ANI): Burmese journalist Win Tin, who was freed after spending more than 19 years in one of the world's most notorious jails, has said that he cannot recall how he retained his sanity during his incarceration.

"I am free, but I would like to say that I feel very sorry for my colleagues who have died in the prison," The Independent quoted him as saying on a crackling phone line from Rangoon.

"Many, many of my friends are dead. I saw them die. And there are many people left inside. The leaders of [the pro-democracy movement] are all still there," he added.

Win Tin, 78 or 79, was among more than 9,000 prisoners who Burma's military government on Monday announced were in line to be set free as part of an amnesty.

Campaigners say more than 2,000 other political prisoners remain behind bars.

Win Tin, who is also known for his poetry, was frail but in remarkably good spirits after spending 19 years and three months in solitary confinement.

After walking out of Rangoon's Insein jail on Monday, he vowed to continue his struggle against the regime that jailed him.

His arrest in 1989 was almost certainly due to his seniority in the National League for Democracy (NLD) and his close relationship with its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains under house arrest.

For a long time he was kept in a cell originally designed as a kennel and was refused bedding.

"The first three or so years were horrid, like hell," he said. "I was tortured, I was interrogated and asked about my activities ... On one occasion they questioned me for five days and five nights non-stop. I was not allowed to sleep or eat, just to have a small cup of water," he said.

On other occasions during Rangoon's damp, misty winters he was handcuffed to a seat in the prison yard and left there overnight.

"I was there from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. and then, I would be interrogated early in the morning ... Sometimes I was hooded and I could not see who was interrogating me. Then they would beat me. I complained to the officers but they denied it and said I must have been hallucinating, yet I said I had been hit on the ears. Not just once but many times," he added.

The release of Win Tin and seven other political prisoners comes exactly a year after last September's protests, which became the largest uprising against the country's military rulers for 20 years when up to 100,000 Buddhist monks and ordinary members of the public took to the streets. The regime said it was releasing the prisoners so that they could take part in an election, scheduled to be held in 2010. (ANI)

Be first to comment this article | Add as favourites (4)

Kathmandu, Sept 25 (ANI): The Constituent Assembly (CA) members of Nepali Congress today raised serious concern over possession of modern weapons by Maoist cadres inside the premises of International Convention Center (ICC), where CA meetings are held.

Speaking at a meeting held in the Parliament, Nepali Congress leaders Arjun Prasad Joshi and Shobhakhar Parajuli said that some Maoist cadres are entering parliament with AK-47 weapons registered by the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), even after formation of the government under their leadership.

The police deployed for security could not seize the arms since they are sealed by the United Nations.

The leaders demanded that the Home Minister should clarify as to who is responsible for security arrangement at the parliament.

They also called it as rehearsal to impose their dictatorial rule and influence the Constituent Assembly proceedings during the Constitution writing process.

On Monday, police personnel at the third gate of the ICC had tried to stop a Maoist cadre possessing arms from entering parliament but failed, Kantipur reported. (ANI)

Be first to comment this article | Add as favourites (4)

United Nations, Sept 25 (ANI): Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has said that his country was ready to take several steps for every single step Pakistan would take to address the burgeoning challenge of extremism.

"Afghanistan stands ready to take several steps for each single step that Pakistan will take to address the challenge of radicalism and terrorism," The News quoted Karzai as saying at the UN General Assembly session.

He urged Pakistan and the international community to help eliminate sanctuaries terrorists use to attack his beleaguered country. "Undoubtedly, terrorism will not go away until we dismantle the elaborate institutional support terrorists enjoy in the region and eliminate their secure sanctuaries," he said and added: "This will be possible only if we engage in sincere regional and international cooperation."

Karzai said a fresh spate of attacks in Pakistan, Marriott Hotel suicide attack, illustrated the need to work together.

The Afghan President appealed for more international help to train and equip his army and police. "The continuation of civilian casualties can seriously undermine the legitimacy of fighting terrorism and the credibility of the Afghan people's partnership with the international community," Karzai added. (ANI)

Be first to comment this article | Add as favourites (6)

Shillong, Sept 25 (ANI): The Indian Mujahideen (IM) has reportedly threatened to kill Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L K Advani, during his September 29 visit to Shillong.

On Wednesday night, an email was dispatched to some local newspapers. It was written in incoherent English.

It was signed by the self-styled North-East Field Commander of IM, Ali Hussain Badr, and said that Advani's "Hindutva demand has pushed India into a fascist mould".

Senior police officials held a high-level meeting with Meghalaya Chief Minister Donkupar Roy on the issue.

A senior police official said, "We can't say anything now, we are trying to trace the IP address," adding that prime facie it appeared that the email was sent from Shillong itself.

Police also visited the newspaper house where the email was sent and analysed it. (ANI)

Be first to comment this article | Add as favourites (5)