Burma's_military_makes_a_mockery_of

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Subject: Burma's_military_makes_a_mockery_of_justice?

Media Release - 4 Febdruary 1999

BURMA'S MILITARY MAKES A MOCKERY OF JUSTICE?
BURMESE DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS SENTENCED TO LENGHTY PRISON TERMS?

The Burma Lawyers? Council today condemned Burma?s military junta for its
latest attempt to silence its political opposition with its blatant
misappropriation of the legal system. A spokesperson said that, ?In a
recent typical Burmese day, under the rule of the military junta?s State
Peace and Development Council, almost 300 democracy activists were
sentenced to a total of over 3,440 years of imprisonment,? according to
reports from Burma.

?Such ridiculously lengthy sentences imposed for seeking basic human rights
make a mockery of justice in Burma. Does the military junta really think
that they can manipulate the legal system like this and be taken seriously
as a body fit to govern??

?Burma?s military regime is simply manipulating the legal system to achieve
its political goals. The alleged crimes are fictitious. The sentences are
absurd?, said a spokesperson for the Burma Lawyers Council.

Student activist organisations also claim that their student colleagues
were arrested for supporting the attempts of Aung San Suu Kyi and the
National League for Democracy (NLD)to convene the National Assembly. 

The lawyer?s information is that on the 18 January 1999, over 200 students
were each sentenced to 14 years imprisonment. Student leaders however,
mostly from the Rangoon Arts and Science University, received sentences
ranging up to 52 years. A further 70 members of the National League for
Democracy, including two elected MP?s, were each sentenced to 7 years
imprisonment.

For almost nine years the military regime in Burma has refused to allow a
convening of the National Assembly elected in May 1990. In September 1998
the National League for Democracy repeated its demand for a convening of
the National Assembly. Following the immediate detention of most elected
MP?s the NLD established a Committee Representing the National Assembly.

In response to the calls of the National League for Democracy, the military
has arrested over 1,000 members of the NLD and other democracy activists.
The military has also increased the tempo of its persecution of the
democracy movement in recent months as it prepares to unveil its long
awaited constitution, which is widely anticipated to further entrench the
military?s grip on power.

?For years, Burma?s military regime has been using the legal system to
eliminate its political opposition. Any person supporting democracy and
human rights is charged with ?undermining the stability of the state? or
?threatening the security of the union?.  Trials are brief, farcical and
convictions inevitable, as they are predetermined by the military.
Sentences may range from 5 years to life imprisonment.?

?Lengthy gaol sentences are imposed to silence the opposition and do not
reflect any crimes that are alleged to have been committed,? concluded the
lawyers.


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