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DS: Urgent action appeal




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Van:  kgerson@xxxxxxxxxxx[SMTP:kgerson@xxxxxxxxxxx]
Verzonden:  dinsdag 24 juni 1997 19:21
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Onderwerp:  Urgent action appeal





EXTERNAL  AI Index: ASA 16/19/97

UA 187/97                Fear for safety/Fear of ill-treatment
24 June 1997

MYANMAR             Khin Maung Win alias Ko Sunny
                    Cho Aung Than
                    Daw Khin Ma Than (f)
                    U Shwe Myint Aung
                         U Ohn Myint


Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of five  National League
for Democracy (NLD, Myanmar's primary legal opposition party) supporters
arrested since 13 June whose current whereabouts are unknown.  Khin Maung
Win alias Ko Sunny, is the official video-photographer for the NLD; Cho
Aung Than is a cousin of and former assistant to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,
leader of the NLD; Daw Khin Ma Than is the sister of Cho Aung Than and U
Shwe Myint Aung is her husband; U Ohn Myint, an advisor to the NLD, is
believed to be in his 80s.

The official reason for the arrest of the five detainees is not known, but
unofficial sources have stated that they were arrested for allegedly
smuggling abroad video-taped speeches by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Political prisoners in Myanmar often face ill-treatment during
interrogation, which may include beatings and deprivation of sleep and
food.


BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In 1997 the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) has
continued its policy of effectively silencing any opposition in Myanmar. In
May, the authorities again temporarily detained or otherwise prevented more
than 300 NLD members of parliament-elect and organizers from attending a
meeting in Yangon to celebrate the seventh anniversary of their 1990
election victory.  This follows the mass arrests of more than 2000
political activists during 1996 in order to prevent them from attending
meetings or for taking part in demonstrations. Although most of those
arrested were released, dozens have been sentenced to long prison terms.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/express/airmail letters
in English or your own language:
- calling on the authorities to immediately make known the whereabouts of
the five detainees and the charges against them;
- calling on the authorities to release all five immediately and
unconditionally if they are held solely for their peaceful political
activities;
- calling on the authorities to ensure that all five are allowed access to
their lawyers, doctors and family members;
- calling on the authorities to ensure that while detained all five are not
ill-treated and are held in accordance with international minimum
standards.

APPEALS TO:

Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman
State Law and Order Restoration Council
c/o Director of Defence Services Intelligence (DDSI)
Ministry of Defence, Signal Pagoda Road
Dagon Post Office
Yangon
Union of Myanmar
Telegrams: General Than Shwe, Yangon, Myanmar
Telexes: 21316
Salutation: Dear General

Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, Secretary 1
State Law and Order Restoration Council
c/o Director of Defence Services Intelligence (DDSI)
Ministry of Defence, Signal Pagoda Road
Dagon Post Office
Yangon
Union of Myanmar
Telegrams: Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, Yangon, Myanmar
Telexes: 21316
Salutation: Dear Lieutenant General

COPIES TO: diplomatic representatives of Myanmar accredited to your
country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat,
or your section office, if sending appeals after 5 August 1997.