Urgent Action arrests-follow-up

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PUBLIC    AI Index: ASA 16/28/98

                                                            21 October 1998

Further information on UA 237/98 (ASA 16/26/98, 8 September 1998)- Mass
Arbitrary Arrests / Prisoners of Conscience New concerns: Fear of torture
and ill-treatment / Fear for safety / Health concern

MYANMAR   Over 200 members of the NLD opposition political party, including
          Thakin Khin Nyunt, aged 84 (released)
New name: Dr. U Saw Mra Aung, aged 80, and
          54 people, including 23 NLD members



Thakin Khin Nyunt was released on 14 September 1998, and 32 others also
arrested by Myanmar's military authorities since 6 September 1998 have also
since been released. However, there are serious concerns for 54 people who
were recently arrested in a related case, some of whom were reportedly
severely beaten during interrogation. Hundreds of other prisoners of
conscience who are still detained remain in danger of torture or
ill-treatment.

Dr. U Saw Mra Aung, an 80-year-old medical doctor and an elected member of
parliament, was arrested on 6 September. In view of his age, Amnesty
International is particularly concerned about his health while in
detention. In mid-September he was appointed as Head of the symbolic
People's Parliament by the few National League for Democracy (NLD) leaders
who are not currently in detention. The NLD is Myanmar's leading opposition
party, led by Nobel prize laureate, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

In a press conference on 7 October, the State Peace and Development Council
(SPDC, Myanmar's military government) announced that 54 people, including
23 NLD members, had been arrested in connection with a "conspiracy" to
"incite unrest" by NLD members and students allied with foreign
organizations. Amnesty International could find no evidence in the SPDC
statement that any of those arrested had engaged in anything other than
peaceful civil disobedience in Myanmar. Amnesty International is also
concerned by reports that some of those detained before the press
conference were severely beaten during interrogation, and that they may not
be receiving the medical care they could need as a result.

SPDC officials have stated that NLD members are being held in government
guesthouses and treated well. The SPDC also claims that detainees are
participating in discussions about the future of the country with
government officials. However, other reports indicate that NLD members are
being intimidated into resigning from the party, and that most of them are
held in detention facilities around the country, including Insein Prison in
Yangon, where hundreds of political prisoners are held.

According to the NLD, over 900 of its members have been arrested since May,
including some 200 elected members of parliament. Student activist sources
also claim that hundreds of their colleagues have been arrested during the
same period.  Because of the lack of access to Myanmar by journalists and
independent human rights monitors, it is impossible to confirm these
numbers.  However, Amnesty International believes that hundreds of
opposition activists have been arrested in the last five months, many of
them for their peaceful political activities, including holding
demonstrations and distributing leaflets, calling on the SPDC to convene
the parliament elected in 1990, and attempting to meet with colleagues
around the country.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/
airmail letters in English or in your own language:
- welcoming the release of Thakin Khin Nyunt and 32 others arrested by
Myanmar's military authorities since 6 September 1998;
- expressing deep concern at the recent arrests of 54 people in a related
case, and at reports that some were severely beaten during interrogation
and may not be receiving medical attention;
- urging the SPDC to release all those arrested in the last five months for
their peaceful political activities, including Dr. U Saw Mra Aung;
-urging the SPDC not to ill-treat or torture anyone currently in detention;
- calling on the SPDC to make public a list of all those detained, their
whereabouts, and any charges brought against them;
- reminding the government of Myanmar of its commitment to the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, in particular Article 20 (1):"Everyone has the
right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association."

APPEALS TO:
Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, Secretary 1
State Peace and Development Council
c/o Director of Defence Services Intelligence (DDSI)
Ministry of Defence, Signal Pagoda Road
Dagon Post Office
Yangon
Union of Myanmar
Telegrams:     General Khin Nyunt, Yangon, Myanmar
Telexes:  21316
Faxes:    + 95 1 229 50
Salutation:    Dear General

Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman
State Peace and Development 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

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 8 December 1998.


"Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association."
Article             20 (1), Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Visit:
Amnesty International UDHR campaign website on
                       http://www.amnesty.excite.com
Amnesty International Coordinating group Burma on
	          http://www.angelfire.com/al/homepageas/index.html