MYANMAR: Old Burmese Man Languishing in Bangladesh Prison

DHAKA, Bangladesh (Arakan News), July 24, 2006: A Burmese man, aged 75 years old, has been languishing in a Bangladesh prison for 12 years. Since his arrest in 1994, he has had no opportunity to be released, reported a family member. U Maung Pru, AKA Adul Marlate, was arrested on St. Martin Island by the Bangladesh Navy on November 15, 1994, along with 18 other cattle smugglers from Myanmar. During the arrest, the Bangladesh Navy seized 42 cattle and over 1100 cow skins, along with two machine boats. The navy later transferred U Maung Pru to Cox's Bazar police station. A few days after was transferred to the police, he was sent before a Chittagong court to face trial along with the other smugglers arrested that day. The judge from Chittagong court heard their case for nearly three months, before he and the other smugglers were at last sentenced to two years in prison and fined 1000 taka. Even though his jail term was complete in 1996, he was not released from the prison because the authority in Myanmar refused to accept him as a Burmese citizen. However, other smugglers who were sentenced along with him were released after their terms were complete. His family said that U Maung Pru is now in Cox's Bazar jail and his health condition is not very good, due to his age. The family members in his country have been trying to secure his release from jail but have been unsuccessful as his own country refuses to accept him as a Burmese citizen. A source in his family reported that they submitted biographies of U Maung Pru and his family members, as well as his address, but the military authority refuses to receive him and bring him back home. U Maung Pru is a native of Pesi Pike Thi War Village of the Wakin Village Tract under Kyauk Taw Township, around 60 miles north of state capital Akyab, it is learnt.