Senator Calls for Clinton’s Intervention in Kyaw Zaw Lwin Case

WASHINGTON, DC—A US Senator has recently sought the personal intervention of Hillary Rodham Clinton in securing the release of Kyaw Zaw Lwin, a Burmese-born American national, who was imprisoned by the military junta on charges of fraud and forgery, and whose health is reported to be deteriorating since he went on hunger strike.

“It is vital that the US State Department ensures the health, safety and fair treatment of every US citizen incarcerated overseas,” Sen Barbara A. Mikulski said in a letter to Clinton.

Nyi Nyi Aung (aka Kyaw Zaw Lwin)

Mikulski, the senator from Maryland, expressed her serious concerns about Kyaw Zaw Lwin’s treatment by a military regime that is known for its violation of human rights. “Mr Lwin has already reported through his attorney that he has been tortured while being interrogated during his detention,” she said.

Calling for personal intervention from Clinton, she said, “I urge you to condemn Mr Lwin’s detention in the strongest possible terms and to ensure that the State Department is doing everything in its power to secure Mr Lwin’s release.”

Until his release can be obtained, Mikulski wrote: “I ask that the State Department continue to carefully monitor Mr Lwin’s condition―particularly his health and safety―and do everything possible to keep Mr Lwin’s family informed of his status.”

Kyaw Zaw Lwin, aka Nyi Nyi Aung, was arrested by Burmese authorities on Sept. 3 upon arrival at Yangon [Rangoon] Airport and was charged with fraud and forgery. Both charges carry a prison term of seven years.

Meanwhile, the US State Department continued to express concern over his imprisonment. “We are concerned about Kyaw Zaw Lwin’s health and are pressing for immediate consular access to him. We were last granted consular access on December 3,” spokesman Ian Kelly said.

“Burmese authorities cited Kyaw Zaw Lwin’s health as the reason his scheduled Dec. 11 court hearing was postponed,” he said.

Last week, US Sen Jim Webb also expressed concerns after news reports surfaced about the alleged mistreatment of Kyaw Zaw Lwin during his detainment in Burma, and that he is being denied regular access to US consular visits. Webb, who earlier this year became the first US senator to visit Burma in  a decade, has asked the Department of State that he be provided updates on the status of this case.

“In the interim, I urge the government in Burma to afford Kyaw Zaw Lwin all the rights guaranteed under international law,” said Webb, who serves as chairman of the East Asia and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

“I also trust that the government will allow him the same access to US embassy personnel that American citizen John Yettaw, whom I escorted out of the country in August, received during his detainment and trial earlier this year,” Webb said.