Statement on the arrested trade uni

[seafarer@xxxxxxxxxx]

The Seafarers' Union of Burma hereby makes the following statement upon the
arrest of trade union leaders (13 June, 1998)

Notes that the military junta of Burma has been detaining U Khin Kyaw of
the Seafarers' Union of Burma and U Myo Aung Thant of All-Burma
Petrol-Chemical Corporation Union for one year as of today for their mere
involvement in trade union activities.

Also notes that U Myo Aung Thant was sentenced to 10-year in jail in
addition to life imprisonment for high treason whereas U Khin Kyaw is still
being detained without any sentence.

Believes that these two officials must have been tortured and ill-treated
in the notorious prison in Burma.

Strongly protests that the SPDC (State Peace and Development Committee) has
been oppressing and banning freedom of trade union movements and detaining
activists with harsh and serious charges even though they (SPDC) are
speaking out they are paving way for democracy/

Deplores the totally blatant ignorance of the SPDC  to the repeated calls
for the release of these two trade union leaders made by the independent
international trade union organizations as well as Amnesty International.

Calls upon the SPDC  regime to stop or refrain from their continued
detaining and imprisonment of such activists as trade unionists, democracy
promoters and freedom of rights fighters by accusing them like
law-breakers, terrorists or high treasonists in ways of SPDC's usual
made-up cliches.

Calls on the unconditional release of the unjustifiably arrested U Myo Aung
Thant, U Khin Kyaw and their families including other trade union or
democracy activists.

Appeals to the International Transport Workers' Federation and it's
affiliates to protest the junta's oppression on the trade union movements
in Burma by whatever means they can afford.

Urges all international trade union community to exert the continued
pressure upon the SPDC junta in order that there could have free and
independent trade unions within Burma in defense of the benefits of all
workers.
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(Seafarers' Union of Burma)