Brief Biography of Dr.Zaw Myint Maung

Dr. Zaw Myint Maung(age 56), elected representative of Mandalay Division – Amarapura Constituency, has been serving a lengthy jail term at Myinkyina Prison, is said to be quite ill. Zaw Myint Maung has been suffering from severe indigestion and unable to eat properly, according to his wife Dr. Yu Yu May. He has been in junta’s jail since November 1990. He was imprisoned for his alleged participation in discussions about the formation of a parallel government in Mandalay, in November 1990 and was sentenced to 25 years under Penal Code Article 122 (1) at a military tribunal with no legal representation. He is believed to have been deprived of food and sleep during interrogation. He was one of a total of 24 prisoners were given further prison sentences on 28 March1996 in connection with their circulation of news within the prison, their preparation of a magazine, and their attempts to report on human rights violations in the prison. He was alleged to have written two poems and to have signed a petition for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. While authorities investigated, he and others were held in cells designed for military dogs, made to sleep on concrete floor without bedding during winter months, and deprived of food and water. He was held in a dog cell between November 1995 and May 1996. The group of 24 was also reportedly denied legal representation at their trial. He was then sentenced to additional 12 years imprisonment. He is being held at Myit-kyi-na prison in Kachin State in remote northern Burma. He received 21,119 valid votes as 66.35 % in the 1990 elections.