VA 232/95 on Myanmar <fwd>

[TMYINT@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

------------------forwarded message----------------
>From:	PO2::"uddinr@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx" "Reza Uddin"  6-OCT-1995 10:38:51.00
>To:	TMYINT@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>CC:	
>Subj:	UA 232/95 on Myanmar (fwd)

Forwarded message:
> From ccoate Thu Oct  5 16:41:44 1995
> From: ccoate (Chuck Coate)
> Message-Id: <9510052341.AA14843@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: UA 232/95 on Myanmar (fwd)
> To: rominek (Kalatchay Romine), hinesk (Kathryn Hines), uddinr (Reza Uddin),
>         battyc (Cherryll Batty), bowdenj (Jeffrey Bowden)
> Date: Thu, 5 Oct 1995 16:41:43 -0700 (PDT)
> X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL17]
> Content-Type: text
> Content-Length: 6276      
 
> Forwarded message:
> > Sender: "sharriso" <SHARRISO@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: UA 232/95 on Myanmar
> > From: "sharriso" <SHARRISO@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Date: Thu, 05 Oct 1995 18:21:51
> > Originator: SHARRISO @ SHARRISO
> > X-Mhsfile: BCBFBIDL
 
> >                The Urgent Action Network
> >                Amnesty International USA
> >                  Post Office Box 1270
> >                 Nederland CO 80466-1270
> >                  phone: 303 440 0913
> >                   fax: 303 258 7881
> >             e-mail: sharrison@xxxxxxxxxxx
> > ------------------------------------------------
> > UA 232/95                                           Fear of ill-treatment 
> > or torture                                                  5 October 
> > 1995
> > MYANMAR           Ye Htut, member of National League for Democracy (NLD)
 
> > Amnesty International fears that Ye Htut, reportedly arrested on 27 
> > September 1995 by military intelligence personnel, may be facing ill- 
> > treatment or torture in prison.  

> > According to state-run newspapers, Ye Htut is facing charges of 
> > 'concocting news stories' about Myanmar and sending them to dissident 
> > Burmese groups based abroad.  His place of detention is not known.  Ye 
> > Htut, who was elected Member of Parliament for the Kyaik-to 1 
> > constituency in the Mon State, in the Burmese elections of 1990, was 
> > previously detained in late 1990 or early 1991, and was released some 
> > time before August 1993. 
 
> > Conditions in Myanmar's prisons fall far short of international minimum 
> > standards, and torture and ill-treatment is common during the 
> > interrogation period and after sentencing.   As a politician who has 
> > previously been detained, Ye Htut is likely to be at particular risk, 
> > especially given the nature of the charges against him.
 
> > BACKGROUND INFORMATION
> > Surveillance of real or imputed critics of the military government by 
> > Military Intelligence (MI) is pervasive in Myanmar, sometimes leading to 
> > arrest and imprisonment.  Myanmar citizens who meet with foreigners are 
> > particularly vulnerable to such surveillance activities.  Many former 
> > political prisoners have been warned by the authorities not to become 
> > involved in politics, and are watched by MI.
 
> > The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC, Myanmar's military 
> > government) took power following the violent suppression of widespread 
> > pro-democracy demonstrations in 1988.  Hundreds of people were killed 
> > during the military crackdown, with hundreds more arrested and imprisoned 
> > in 1989.  General elections held in 1990 resulted in an overwhelming 
> > victory for the NLD, the political party founded by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. 
> >  However the SLORC refused to hand over power and has continued to rule 
> > by decree since 1988.  The rights to freedom of expression, association 
> > and assembly are severely curtailed in Myanmar, and anyone expressing 
> > opposition to the SLORC is at risk of arrest.  Although over 2,000 
> > prisoners have reportedly been released since April 1992, hundreds remain 
> > in prison.  In the last 18 months, prisoners have been given long 
> > sentences for allegedly passing information on the human rights situation 
> > in Myanmar to foreign groups and individuals.
 
> > RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/airmail letters:

> > - seeking assurances that the treatment of Ye Htut conforms to 
> > international standards and that he is being given access to his family, 
> > lawyers and medical personnel;

> > - seeking clarification as to the whereabouts of Ye Htut and the charges 
> > against him;

> > - urging that if he has been arrested solely for the peaceful exercise of 
> > his right to freedom of expression and association, he be immediately and 
> > unconditionally released.

> > APPEALS TO:                                                               

> >         (SALUTATION)
> > 1) General Than Shwe, Chairman                                           
> > (Dear General)
> > State Law and Order Restoration Council
> > c/o Ministry of Defence, Signal Pagoda Road
> > Yangon (Rangoon), Union of Myanmar (Burma)
> > [Telegrams: General Than Shwe, Yangon, Myanmar]
> > [Telexes: 713 21316]

> > 2) Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, Secretary 1                             
> >       (Dear General)
> > State Law and Order Restoration Council
> > c/o Ministry of Defence, Signal Pagoda Road
> > Yangon (Rangoon), Union of Myanmar (Burma)
> > [Telegrams: Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, Yangon, Myanmar]
> > [Faxes: 011 95 1 229 50]
 
> > COPIES TO: 
> > Ambassador U Thaung
> > Embassy of the Union Of Myanmar
> > 2300 S St. NW
> > Washington DC 20008
 
> > Please send appeals immediately. Check with the Colorado office between 
> > 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, Mountain Time, weekdays only, if sending appeals 
> > after  November 20, 1995.
 
> > Please take action as soon as you receive this Urgent Action appeal. 
> > Carefully read the recommended action and send a telegram, fax or airmail 
> > letter immediately to one or more of the addresses given. Other letters 
> > can be sent afterwards.
 
> > In Urgent Action appeals, A.I. has to act rapidly to prevent a serious 
> > human rights abuse. An appeal is issued when the organization believes it 
> > has received reliable and accurate information in such cases. It is not 
> > always possible to verify all details independently and in some instances 
> > the situation outlined in the appeal may change. Urgent Action 
> > participants are always notified of any significant new information.
 
> > Send your appeals in English unless you are fluent with the language of 
> > the target country.Information about the alleged connection of any person 
> > with an organization which is banned in their country is provided as 
> > information only and should not be included in appeals.

> > Copies of any replies from government authorities should be sent 
> > immediately to the Colorado office. If appropriate, thank the official 
> > who has replied and ask to be kept informed about the case.
 
> > Postage costs: airmail letters cost 60 cents a page (1/2 oz.) to most 
> > countries; aerogrammes and postacard are 50 cents each.
 
> > The name of Amnesty International may be used although letters written in 
> > a private or professional capacity are often more effective.
> > 
> > 
_fwd_message.end.