Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the arrest of human rights defender Nilar Thein, a human rights defender and pro-democracy activist leader in Burma, on 10 September 2008. Nilar Thein is a member of the '88 Generation Students group and has been in hiding from the authorities for over a year following the mass protests in Burma in August and September 2007.

Further Information

Posted 26/09/2008 On 10 September 2008, Nilar Thein was arrested in Yangon by Burmese security forces when she was on her way to visit her mother. Nilar Thein's mother and husband, Ant Bwe Kyaw and Kyaw Min Yu, were arrested along with 11 other anti-government demonstrators from the '88 Generation Students Group on 22 August 2007. Following their arrest Nilar Thein led a demonstration in Yangon calling for the release of all human rights defenders and also protesting against the fuel price increases which had been imposed by the State. Nilar Thein has been imprisoned twice before; she was detained for two months in 1991 and then spent nine years in jail from 1996-2005 for her political activities.

Nilar Thein is currently being held at the Aung Tha Pyay Detention Centre in Yangon, where Front Line believes she is at risk of torture and ill-treatment.

Front Line believes that Nilar Thein has been targeted as a result of her human rights activities, in particular her work to promote democracy and the rule of law in Burma. Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Nilar Thein, and reiterates its concern for all Burmese human rights defenders currently in detention.