Kachin Farmer Arrested and Tortured in Burma – Free Mading Zau Bawk!

By Burma Campaign UK • February 8, 2013

Burma Campaign UK today called for the immediate release of Mading Zau Bawk and other remaining political prisoners in Burma. Mading Zau Bawk is a 23-year-old Kachin farmer who was arrested in May 2012 and tortured brutally by the military-backed government in Burma.

To draw attention to the hundreds of political prisoners still in jail, Burma Campaign UK is highlighting the case of a different political prisoner every month. The political prisoner for this month is Mading Zau Bawk.

Mading Zau Bawk was arrested by Burmese Army 37th battalion on suspicion of being a solider from Kachin Independence Army (KIA). The KIA is the armed wing of the Kachin Independence Organisation, which works for democracy and more autonomy for the Kachin people.

He is currently still on trial and he has been charged under the Unlawful Associations Act 17(1), which the military-backed government in Burma uses to ban people from associating with pro-democracy groups. During interrogation, he was brutally tortured and forced to confess. According to a family member he has been suffering pain all over his body due to severe beatings and he has had trouble hearing.

“The military-backed government in Burma should release Mading Zau Bawk and other political prisoners immediately.” said Wai Hnin, Campaigns Officer at Burma Campaign UK. “It is impossible to achieve peace and reconciliation, if President Thein Sein and his government is still using torture and arrest against people in Burma.”

Burma Campaign UK supporters are being asked to write a letter to Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire MP asking him to pressure the military-backed government for the immediate release of Mading Zau Bawk and other remaining political prisoners in Burma.