A hearing in the case of a Kachin woman who was allegedly abducted by Burmese soldiers more than three months ago will be held at the Union Supreme Court in Naypyidaw on Feb. 9, according to a lawyer for the woman's family.
Mar Khar, the complainant’s lawyer, told The Irrawaddy that Maru Lun Daung, the husband of Swan Lut Rwei Gyar, and a defendant from the Burmese army's Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 321 will testify at the hearing.
On Jan. 26, Lun Daung submitted a formal complaint to the Supreme Court asking for an investigation into the disappearance of his wife, who was arrested on Oct. 28 by three soldiers from LIB 321, based on Lwe Long mountain in Kachin State. The court set the hearing date the following day.
“Of course, someone from the battalion has to come. The court has already sent a summons,” said Mar Khar.
Under Chapter 8, Article 378 of Burma's 2008 Constitution, the Supreme Court of the Union has the power to issue writs of habeas corpus, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention.
Lun Daung told The Irrawaddy that he and his father-in-law were also arrested together with Rwei Gyar while they were working in a corn plantation. Soldiers from LIB 321 accused them of being members of the Kachin Independence Army, he said.
He added that although he and his father-in-law managed to escape the same day, his wife was still held by the soldiers.
“Rwei Gyar’s child is only 15 months old. The baby is now being taken care of by grandparents,” said Mar Khar.
Besides Lun Daung, relatives of two other alleged abductees have also reportedly submitted similar complaints to the Union Supreme Court.
Bran Seng and Zaw Seng were arrested by Infantry Battalion 37 on Dec. 1 and Jan. 5, respectively, the lawyer said.
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