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7/4/00:LETTER TO MARY ROBINSON, UNH



POSTED  SAT 8-APR-2000; 9:00AM

LETTER TO MARY ROBINSION, UNHCHR, TO OPEN INQUIRY
INTO DEATHS IN CUSTODY IN BURMA
***********************************
[Note to our friends on Internet: Please help wirte leter to UNHCHR Mary
Robinson, as well as any support you can muster on this matter will be
greatly appreciated by the Burmese people. Facsimile number to Office of
UN Commission on Human Rights in provided with.-- U Ne Oo.]

Dr U Ne Oo
18 Shannon Place
Adelaide SA 5000
Australia

April 7, 2000.

Ms Mary Robinson
High Commissioner for Human Rights
UN Centre for Human Rights
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
FACSIMILE: (+41-22)917-9016

Dear High Commissioner:

re: Inquiry into deaths in custody and massacres in Burma

I am a Burmese national currently residing in Australia and I call the
High Commissioner's attention to the cases of deaths in custody and the
massacres in Burma. I particularly urge the UN High Commissioner to set
up an inquiry into the deaths in custody cases, as has been recommended
by Special Rapporteur Hon. Rajsoomer Lallah in report A/53/364
Para.(61):

"Further, the special rapporteur recommends that an independent inquiry
be held into the circumstances of the death of Mr. Nichols in June 1996
and U Thein [Tin] in February 1998, while detained in Insein Prison, in
the light of any evidence that may be gathered from fellow prisoners and
prison officials and, indeed any other persons, so that action may be
taken against the individuals who may have been responsible for their
deaths or harsh treatment."

I also enclosed documents containing information regarding with above
mentioned cases, together with a list of 45 persons known to have died
in Burmese prisons since 1988. It does appears that some individuals
within law enforcement as well as prison systems in Burma had given
excessively harsh treatment to detainees, therefore resulting death to
these prisoners. In some cases, there are evidences of prison
authorities treat prisoners with clear intent to cause death or
destruction of life. I appeal the listed cases also be included in the
inquiry and actions should be taken against those who found responsible
for their crime.

I am aware that the International Committee of the Red Cross has been
granted regular visit to prisons in Burma. However, There is no apparent
improvement in treatment of opposition politicians by the ruling
military junta. The continuing hostility of the junta towards its
opponent, with junta's known record of harsh treatment to political
prisoners,  warrent such action by the United Nations Human Rights
mechanism.

I also urge the UN Commission on Human Rights to investigate the
massacre in Central Shan State in 1997. In April 1998, the Amnesty
International reported that incident as (AI Index ASA:16/05/98):

"..from mid June to mid July 1997 some 300 Shan civilians were
reportedly killed in a series of massacres by the Burmese military in
Kunhing township, central Shan State. Observers speculated that these
attacks were triggered by a massacre of 25 ethnic Burman civilians by an
unknown Shan armed opposition group  on 13 June  1997.. "

The high number of civilian deaths indicate that the incident in
June/July 1997 in Shan State may not be considered as normal
counter-insurgency operation.

In closing, I thank you for UN Office of Human Rights for your efforts
to improve the human rights situation throughout the world. I also wish
to thank Special Rapporteur for Burma for his relentless effort made on
Burma.

Yours respectfully and sincerely
(Sd. U Ne Oo)
Copy to:

1. Hon. Rajsoomer Lallah, Special Rapporteur, c/- Office of High
Commissioner for Human Rights, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland.

2. Mr Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General, UN Headquarters, United Nations
New York NY 10017, USA.

 ***********************
LIST OF DEATH IN CUSTODY CASES IN BURMA

             Name (profession)[age]            Arrested
Date of Death
             ------------------------            ---------
--------------
   1.       U Zawtika (monk)[60]              22-Oct-90
Dec-92
   2.       U Asara (monk)[35]                 May-89
Jan-96
   3.       U Rewata (monk) [52]              Aug-90
29-Jan-99
   4.       U Kin Maung(aka)
            Bo Set Yaung (politician)[80]     -1989
Feb-90
   5.       U Nyo Win (politician)[60]        Jul-89
8-Mar-90
   6.       U Thar Tun (politician)[82]        7-May-90           Aug-90

   7.       U Maung Ko (politician)[52]     23-Oct-90          9-Nov-90
   8.       U Maung Ko (politician)[n/a]       1990
n/a
   9.       U Sein Win (politician) [54]        Sep-88
10-Jan-91
   10.     U Tin Maung Win (politician)[50]  Oct-90         18-Jan-91
  11.      U Ba Thaw(aka)
            Maung Thaw Ka (journalist)[65]    Oct-89           Jun-91
  12.  Thamani U Sein Hla (politician) [60]   1990             1992
  13.   U Soe Win (politician) [60]              1989              1992
  14.  Mohamad Elliot (politician)[60]        Jun-92           22-Jun-92

  15.  U David (politician) [58]                   1988
2-Aug-92
  16.  Mahn Dar Wait (politician)[56]          1989             Aug-92
  17.  U Aye Lwin (Politician) [38]             1988              Dec-92

  18.  U Kin Maung Myint (politician)[63]   Jun-89           Feb-93
  19.  Ko Cho Gyi (politician)[n/a]              1989              1993
  20.  U Kinn Sein (politician)[53]              Jan-91            1994
  21.  U Kyi Hsaung (politician)[n/a]           1995           May-96
  22.  U Leo Nichols (Consul) [64] ,         Apr-96        22-Jun-96
  23.  Ko Myint Hswe (politician)[32]         1988            Jul-96
  24.  U Hla Than (MP-elect)[49]           23-Oct-90      2-Aug-96
  25.  U Tin Shwe (politician)[67]           Nov-90           8-Jun-97
  26.  U Saw Hla Chit (politician)[55]     30-May-92        Sep-97
  27.  U Kyaw Din (politician)[58]           24-Jul-97       20-Oct-97
  28.  U Thein Tin (politician)[n/a]           Mar-96          18-Feb-98

  29.   Ko Than Win (politician)[n/a]         [n/a]               [n/a]
  30.   Sishee (politician)[23]                     [n/a]
Oct-90
  31.   U Saw Win (aka)
         U Kyaw Zaw Linn (MP-elect)[61]    1991         7-Aug-98
  32.  U Aung Minn (politician)[53]         6-Sep-98     21-Oct-98
  33.  Ko Zaw Win Tun (student)[21]    21-Oct-88     30-Dec-88
  34.  Ko Maung Maung Aye (student)[24]    1989        1990
  35.  Ko Kyaw Myoe Thant (student)[25]    Jul-89      May-90
  36.  Ko Kyaw Soe (student)[22]               Jan-89        Jan-89
  37.  Ko Soe Htay (student)[19]           12-Apr-91       16-Apr-91
  38.  Saw Kyaw Lwin (student)[n/a]        Oct-91            Aug-92
  39.  Ko Ei Ko (student)[31]                     Oct-90          Jan-93

  40.  Ko Kauk Kway (student)[n/a]            1991             1994
  41.  Ko Thu Ta (student)[n/a]                   Sep-91        Aug-97
  42.  Ko Aung Kyaw Moe (student)[29]   Dec-96     23-May-98
  43.  Ko Nay Win Aung (student: returnee)[22] 1988     1988
  44.   Ko Harnic (student: returnee)[21]        1988          1988
  45.   Ko Aung Moe (student: returnee)[23]  1988          1988
---
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