Human Rights Still Absent in Burma

[caroline@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

For Immediate Release: 10 December 1998
MEDIA RELEASE:
HUMAN RIGHTS STILL ABSENT IN BURMA

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, millions of people in Burma are still being denied their most
basic human rights.

The All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF) condemns the ruling
military junta in Burma for its failure to secure the human rights stated
in the UN Declaration.  Although Burma was a signatory partner to the
Declaration in 1948, the present junta has made itself responsible for the
worst violations of human rights in the modern history of the country.

During these fifty years the human rights of the people of Burma have been
violated countless times by the state authorities, and the appalling human
rights situation of the country has been stated to the UN General Assembly
every year since 1991.  For several years, the military authorities have
denied the UN Special Rapporteur on Burma access to the country to
investigate human rights abuses, the most recent denial occurring in
November of this year.

"Human rights are still a dream for people in Burma.  Burma is far from
fulfilling the pronouncements of the Declaration, far from translating them
into national law and far from recognising them as fundamental universal
rights", said Aung Thu Nyein, general-secretary of the ABSDF.

"A person in Burma who demands that human rights be respected will most
likely end up serving a long prison sentence, and torture of dissidents is
common.  Respect for human rights is a highly sensitive issue for the
present military junta, and Burma is still a country of widespread
discrimination, forced labour, extra-judicial killings, torture, arbitrary
arrest and exile."

The junta responded this year to a call by the National League for
Democracy (NLD) for the convening of Parliament by oppressing members of
the party.  As of last month, 701 NLD members, including over 182 Members
of Parliament, were under arrest.  Many NLD members who were in detention
have been released on the condition that they resign from the NLD and
promise to cease any involvement in politics.  NLD offices in more than 14
different townships were forced to close in the last crackdown, and several
others had previously been forced to close.  To date a total of 1259 NLD
members have been forced to resign.

The ABSDF calls on international governments and individuals to assist in
freeing Burma and securing fundamental rights in Burma in accordance with
the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly.

For further information please contact 01 253 9082.



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