A/HRC/10/19 page 9 become more costly and time-consuming for families. The fact that family members are unable to see each other on a regular basis can have a psychological impact on both the prisoners and their families. Moreover, prisoners very often rely on food and medication provided by their families. 30. It has been reported that a number of prisoners have been regularly transferred to other prisons without notification of their families, who lose track of the prisoner’s whereabouts. 31. On 3 January 2009, Bo Min Yu Ko, a member of the Mandalay branch of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions in his early twenties, who was arrested on 16 September 2008, was sentenced to 104 years of imprisonment at Obo Prison Court in Mandalay Division. He was charged under 40 different sections of law and was not allowed a defence lawyer. He faced six charges under section 13/1 of the Immigration Act alone. 32. It is also reported that prisoners of conscience during the interrogation period carried out by the Special Security Force of Military Intelligence are subject to physical ill-treatment. Some are asked to remain in the same position for long hours every day. There are also reports of prisoners having been beaten during interrogation. The Special Rapporteur was informed that a large number of prisoners of conscience are kept in solitary confinement. He therefore reiterates the need for human rights training for the military and prison staff to raise their awareness of international standards and rules for the treatment of prisoners. 33. During his mission to Myanmar in February 2009, the Special Rapporteur met in private with five prisoners of his choice. He met with Dr. Tin Min Htut and Nyi Pu, both National League for Democracy candidates elected in 1990 to Parliament. They were co-signatories of a letter addressed to the Secretary-General to express concern about the new Constitution of Myanmar, after which they were arrested on 12 August 2008. On 13 February 2009, they were sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment. The Special Rapporteur is of the opinion that any citizen of a State Member of the United Nations should be able to write to and contact the Secretary-General without fear of reprisal. 34. The Special Rapporteur also met with Kyaw Ko Ko, leader of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, arrested on 17 March 2008 and sentenced to three years of imprisonment in early February 2009. The Special Rapporteur was informed that Kyaw Ko Ko had been transferred to another prison, and his whereabouts have still not been disclosed to his family. 35. The Special Rapporteur met with Nyi Nyi Htwe, a lawyer defending prisoners of conscience, who has been charged under section 228 of the Penal Code and sentenced to six months of imprisonment; his release is due in April 2009. He also met with Daw Pone Na Mee (dae Mya Nyunt), 84 years old and a nun since the age of 45. She was arrested, together with a number of other nuns and elderly monks, in a monastery in October 2007, and did not know the reason for her arrest. She was frail and had difficulty in standing and walking. 36. The Special Rapporteur received reports about the dire health conditions of a large number of prisoners of conscience, some of whom do not even receive basic medication. In January 2009, he received reports regarding Kay Thi Aung’s miscarriage owing to lack of adequate medical care in O Bo prison in Mandalay Division. He has unfortunately also received reports regarding the death of prisoners who died owing to lack of medical care. The most recent