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Birmanie/RSF [burmanet2-l] Reuters



Subject: Birmanie/RSF  [burmanet2-l] Reuters-SPDC animals don't know humanrights

Vincent, I think this deserves an official response from RSF and Robert
Menard. Regards, Dawn Star


> Myanmar says prison torture reports ``ridiculous''
> 04:00 a.m. Dec 13, 1999 Eastern
> 
> BANGKOK, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Myanmar's ruling military responded to the
> award of an international prize to a jailed journalist by saying
> accusations of torture in its prisons were ``ridiculous'' as they were
> inspected by the Red Cross.
> 
> International press watchdog Reporters without Borders (RsF) on Friday
> awarded its annual prize to Myanmar journalist San San Nweh, 55, who
> was jailed for 10 years in 1994.
> 
> She was accused of giving biased information to reporters and passing
> information on rights violations to the United Nations. RsF said she
> was suffering from liver and eye ailments due to torture and harsh
> prison conditions.
> 
> Asked to comment on the award, a spokesman for the Myanmar government
> said in a statement faxed to Reuters:
> 
> ``Unfortunately RsF does not seem to be aware that ICRC (International
> Committee of the Red Cross) has been visiting and inspecting
> correctional facilities in Myanmar in accordance with the ICRC's
> standard procedures.
> 
> ``Accusations against the Myanmar government of torture in prisons and
> harsh prison conditions sound rather ridiculous when ICRC and the
> government are working together to upgrade the general conditions in
> Myanmar prisons.''
> 
> The ICRC began prison visits in Myanmar in May, but its reports and
> recommendations on conditions are made to the government and kept
> confidential.
> 
> An ICRC official in Bangkok said it had been pleased with the
> cooperation it had received in Myanmar, but it was a concern if its
> prison visits were used by the government as propaganda.
> 
> RsF said 13 journalists were in prison in Myanmar.
> 
> San San Nweh is one of Myanmar's best known novelists but the sale of
> her books has been banned since she was jailed. She had previously
> been imprisoned for involvement with the beleaguered opposition led by
> Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
> 
> Another Myanmar novelist, Maung Tha Ya, who fled the country earlier
> this year, told reporters military rule there was a ``living death''
> for authors. He estimated 20 prominent writers were in jail and at
> least one had died in custody.
> 
> RsF said one journalist died in jail last year and a photographer had
> reportedly died under torture last September. It said another
> journalist, Win Tin, was near death in prison.