update UA arrests Pegu + release 3

[ajsloot@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: update UA arrests Pegu + release 3 year old




									News Service: 144/99
AI INDEX: ASA 16/21/99
29 July 1999

Myanmar: Three-year-old prisoner of conscience released

Amnesty International today welcomed the release of the world's youngest
prisoner of conscience, three-year-old Thaint Wunna Khin, but regrets that
her mother, Ma Khin Khin Leh, and 17 other prisoners of conscience remain
in detention.

	"It is encouraging that the Burmese authorities have realised that
detaining a three-year-old is as meaningless as it is cruel," Amnesty
International said.

	"We hope that the authorities will reach the same conclusion regarding the
child's mother and the 17 others still behind bars, and release them all
immediately and unconditionally."

	Seven of the 18 remaining detainees are relatives of Thaint Wunna Khin.

	The human rights organization firmly denied the Myanmar government's claim
that Amnesty International based its research on information from "an armed
terrorist group", namely the All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF,
an armed opposition group).  

	As a matter of policy Amnesty International does not use information from
such groups. The organization remains committed to protecting its sources
by never naming them, but can confirm that all its information about this
case was provided by sources with close links inside Myanmar.

	Amnesty International notes that in response to its press release issued
yesterday calling for the release of Thaint Wunna Khin and 18 others,
Myanmar's government on the one hand denied their detention, but at the
same time admitted that "some people were called in for questioning in Bago
[Pegu]...".

	The government also denied that pamphlets had been distributed in Pegu
calling for a peaceful demonstration to commemorate the assassination of
the independence hero General Aung San. Amnesty International has obtained
the names of 32 places in Pegu town where such leaflets had been
distributed. The leaflets called for a peaceful demonstration and
tripartite dialogue between the SPDC (the State Peace and Development
Council, Myanmar's military government), ethnic minority groups, and the
National League for Democracy, led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. 


Background
Thaint Wunna Khin is one of 19 people arrested between 19 and 24 July in
Pegu, central Myanmar. All are thought to be detained in relation to the
planning of a 19 July march to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of General
Aung San's assassination. General Aung San fought for independence from the
British and was the father of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the
National League for Democracy (NLD) opposition party.
ENDS.../

**************************************************************************** 
PUBLIC	AI Index: ASA 16/22/99

Further information on UA 183/99 (ASA 16/19/99, 27 July 1999) - Possible
prisoners of conscience/fear of torture	29 July 1999

MYANMAR	Thaint Wunna Khin (f), aged 3
		Ma Khin Khin Leh, 33, her mother
		U Aye Swe, aged 55
		Daw Tin Tin, 50, his wife
		Kyaw Kyaw, 33, their son
		U Zaw Myint, aged 49
		Daw Tint Tint, his wife, 47
		Ko Zaw Zaw Latt, their son, 20
		U Ba Chit, 48
		U Ye Tint, teacher, 45
		U Win Myint, 45, shopkeeper
		Dr. Shwe Bo (f), 45, medical doctor
		Ma Thida Htway (f), 27, teacher
		Ko Lwin Moe Myint, 27, student activist
		Ko Myint ?, 30, market vendor
		Ko Ah Thay Lay, 21, student
		Ko Hla Win, 23, student
		Two unnamed female physicians in their mid 40s


Three-year-old Thaint Wunna Khin has been released after five days'
detention. Amnesty International welcomes her release, but remains
concerned that the 18 people listed above, including Thaint Wunna Khin's
mother Ma Khin Khin Leh, remain in detention and may be at risk of torture
or ill-treatment. 

Amnesty International has obtained new information on the circumstances of
their arrest, and considers all 18 to be prisoners of conscience.

On 29 July, in response to a press release from Amnesty International the
State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), Myanmar's military government,
issued a statement denying that the 19 people had been detained. However
they did say that "some people were called in for questioning in Bago
[Pegu]...".

The government also denied that pamphlets calling for a peaceful
demonstration to commemorate the assassination of the independence hero
General Aung San had been distributed in Pegu. Amnesty International has
obtained the names of 32 places in Pegu town where such leaflets were
distributed. The leaflets called for a peaceful demonstration and three-way
dialogue between the SPDC, ethnic minority groups and the National League
for Democracy, led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Amnesty International has also received reliable information about the
content of the leaflets, which called for non-violent action only. Those
involved in planning the demonstration are therefore prisoners of
conscience, detained solely for attempting to express their right to
freedom of expression. 

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/airmail
letters in English or your own language:
- welcoming the release of three-year-old Thaint Wunna Khin;
- urging the SPDC to immediately and unconditionally release the other 18
prisoners of conscience;
- urging the SPDC to ensure that those detained are not tortured or
ill-treated, and that they all have immediate access to their families,
lawyers, and proper medical care.


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 September 1999.