Friday, 14 October 2011 23:10 Kyaw Kha
New Delhi (Mizzima) – Two low-ranking army officers from Defence Industry No. 17 (DI 17) are being tried in a court martial for assaulting and beating a private, after his mother wrote a letter to President Thein Sein.
Lieutenant Khin Zaw Aung and Lieutenant Hein Win Aung of Myothit Township kicked and beat an enlisted man Identified as Private Aung Nyein Chan with a bamboo staff on September 14, according to the enlisted man’s mother.
The court commenced its hearing on Tuesday with statements by the prosecutor, and the soldier’s mother, Myint Zu, who described her experience to Mizzima.
Myint Zu told Mizzima: “Three officers from the court surrounded by five soldiers questioned me. Who told you to do this? These officers could be imprisoned if you lodge a complaint. They questioned me mainly on who wrote the complaint letter, the person who typed the letter and on what computer. They told me that you lodged a complaint directly to the president and it would spoil the careers of these young army officers. They asked me why I didn’t lodge a complaint with DI 17?”
“I replied that I wrote the letter by learning from the radio interviews and the news in daily papers. The computer operator typed my letter as I dictated it to him,” she said.
She said that she had no idea whether Lieutenant Khin Zaw Aung and Lieutenant Hein Win Aung were questioned by the court or not. Lieutenant Hein Win Aung was reportedly selected for training in China early next year.
Myint Zu said she was waiting to see if DI 17 would take action against the two officers, but when she learned they would do nothing, she sent a complaint letter to President Thein Sein, the defence minister, Central Command HQ and the Magwe Region government chief minister on September 20.
On September 14, Private Aung Nyein Chan was taking a bath after his duty time when Lieutenant Khin Zaw Aung called him, Myint Zu said. He came out but forgot to button his shirt and forgot to stay in at attention. Lieutenants Khin Zaw Aung and Hein Win Aung severely kicked him and beat him with a bamboo staff more than 40 times, his mother said.
He was admitted to a DI 17 clinic, but his condition did not improve and he was transferred to Mani May Khalar private clinic in Taungdwingyi Township. He is now being treated at the DI 17 clinic.
The presiding judge is Brigadier General Wai Lwin and the bench members are Major Ko Ko Naing of Military Operation Command No. 1809 and Captain Myat Noe from COD.
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