1. INTRODUCTION 1 2. THE MILITARY TAKEOVER OF 18 SEPTEMBER 1988 AND ITS BACKGROUND 3. MARTIAL LAW RESTRICTIONS ON CIVIL LIBERTIES AND LEGISLATION USED TO DETAIN PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE 3.1 Martial law Order Number 2/88 and Notification Number 8/88 of 18 September 1988 and 10 October 1988 3.2 The 1950 Emergency Provisions Act 3.3 The 1962 Law for the Registration of Printers and Publishers 4. UNFAIR TRIAL AND DETENTION WITHOUT CHARGE OR TRIAL 4.1 The Judicial Law of 26 September 1988 4.2 Martial law Orders Numbers 1/89 and 2/89 of 17 and 18 July 1989 4.3 The 1975 State Protection Law 5. NUMBERS OF ARRESTS 6. THE AUTHORITIES? POSITION 7. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS 8. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL?S RECOMMENDATIONS 9. STUDENT OPPOSITION GROUPS AND POLITICAL PARTIES 9.1 Student groups: The All-Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) and the All Burma Students? Democratic Association (ABSDA) 9.1.1 Student political objectives, strategy and tactics 9.1.2 Students and armed insurgents 9.1.3 The All Burma Students Democratic Federation (ABSDF) 9.2 Political parties 9.2.1 The National League for Democracy (NLD) 9.2.2 The Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS) 9.2.3 Other political parties 10. ARRESTS OF PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE OR POSSIBLE PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE BETWEEN 18 SEPTEMBER 1988 AND JANUARY 1989 10.1 Nay Min alias Win Shwe 10.2 Aung Thet U alias Aung Thet Oo, Maung Maung Nyunt, Myo Zaw Win, Ne Win alias Nay Win, Aung Tha Win 10.3 Zaw Win alias Hanid alias Maung Zaw Win alias Hadun alias Har Nink 10.4 Aye Myint 10.5 Sein Hla Aung, Maung Maung Soe alias Wai Lu, Kyaw Lin, Aung Cho, Aung Gyi 11. DEVELOPMENTS BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH 1989 11.1 Paw U Tun?s first public appearance since the coup 11.2 Aung San Suu Kyi?s visit to Ayeyarwady Division and reported arrests 11.3 Bo Yan Naing?s funeral 11.4 Aung San Suu Kyi?s visit to the Shan State 11.5 A February 1989 ABFSU open letter to political parties 11.6 A Paw U Tun statement about the military 11.7 Differences between student and political leaders 11.8 Aung San Suu Kyi?s response 12. ARRESTS IN CONNECTION WITH MEMORIAL AND PROTEST GATHERINGS AND POLITICAL MEETINGS 12.1 SLORC warnings 12.2 Student plans and leaflets 12.3 Further government warnings 12.4 Arrests on 10 and 11 March 1989: Than Nyunt Oo, Ko Ko Naing, Zaw Thein Oo, Kyaw San Oo, Ko Yan Nyein, Nyi Nyi Naing 12.5 The 13 March 1989 memorial rallies in honour of Maung Phone Maw 12.6 Arrests on 13 March 1989: Kyaw Oo, Ma Lay Lay Myint, Ma Mar Lar Nwe, Ma Sanda U, Aung Naing Oo, Ma Thi Thi Maw, Ma Sein Sein Kyu, Maung Maung, Min Aung, Chit Swe, Pe Win, Maung Win Ma Tin Win, Khin Yu Swe, Kaing Kaing Maw, Ma Mu Mu Lwin 12.7 "Red Bridge" demonstrations on 16 March 1989 12.8 Arrests on 16 March 1989: Lu Aye, Kyaw Sein, Ye Win 12.9 Demonstrations on 17 March 1989 12.10 Arrests on 18 March 1989: Toe Kyaw Hlaing, Ma Khin Hnin Nwe, Tint Lwin Oo, Tun Tun Aye, Tin Ko Oo 12.11 Meetings at political party offices from 16 to 20 March 1989 12.12 Demonstrations and arrests on 20 and 21 March 1989: Myat San, Zaw Oo, Aye Min, Thant Zin, Ma San San Oo, Bo Kyi, Yan Myo Thein, Min Thu, Aung Myat Oo, Ma Win Myo Kyi 12.13 Demonstration and arrests on 21 March 1989: Cho Gyi, Ma Saw Thu Wai, Win Naing 12.14 Arrest of the ABFSU Chairman Paw U Tun on 24 March 1989 12.15 Arrest on 24 March 1989: Ma Saw Sandar Win 12.16 Demonstrations and arrests on 25 March 1989 12.17 Demonstrations on Armed Forces Day, 27 March 1989 12.18 Arrests on 27 March 1989: Tin Htay, Sithu Tun, Win Myint Than 12.19 Other Armed Forces Day demonstrations 12.20 General Saw Maung?s Armed Forces Day speech 12.21 New SLORC warnings to student organizations and political parties 12.22 Aung San Suu Kyi on arrests in March 1989 13. APRIL AND MAY 1989 ARRESTS IN CONNECTION WITH POSSESSION OF ANTI-GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS, PERFORMANCE OF ANTI-GOVERNMENT SATIRES, AND MAKING OF ANTI-GOVERNMENT SPEECHES 13.1 SLORC warnings on 7 April 1989 13.2 Arrests on 8 April 1989 13.3 Gatherings on the traditional new year 13.4 Arrests in connection with new years gatherings: Pa Du 13.5 Arrests on 24 April 1989: 4 Aung Din, Min Thein Kha 14. JUNE 1989 ARRESTS APPARENTLY CONNECTED TO PLANS FOR A SCHOOL BOYCOTT 14.1 The ABFSU conference in Mandalay 14.2 NLD and other political party endorsements 14.3 Reported arrests on 11 June 1989 14.4 More SLORC warnings on 13 June 1989 14.5 Arrests on 27 June 1989: Nyo Tun, Zaw Zaw Aung 15. MAY AND JUNE 1989 ARRESTS CONNECTED TO RESTRICTIONS ON PRINTING, PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF DOCUMENTS 15.1 Arrests on 14 June 1989 15.2 Aung San Suu Kyi?s response to the restrictions 16. JUNE 1989 ARRESTS IN CONNECTION WITH MEMORIAL AND CAMPAIGN GATHERINGS ORGANIZED BY STUDENT GROUPS AND LEGALLY-REGISTERED POLITICAL PARTIES 16.1 Disagreements over continuation of the martial law regime 16.2 Severance of official contacts with the DPNS 16.3 Temporary detention of Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein 16.4 ABFSU-NLD Youth joint press conference 16.5 Memorial ceremonies on 21 June 1989 16.6 Security force shootings, the temporary detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and other arrests on 21 June 1989 16.7 22. June 1989: SLORC announces continued tight control and attacks Aung San Suu Kyi 16.8 NLD denials of links to the communist insurgency 16.9 A gathering on 23 June 1989 16.10 Arrests on 23 June 1989: U Kaweinda, Ko Thant Sin alias Ko Thant Zin 16.11 Aung San Suu Kyi?s 26 June 1989 press conference announcing plans for anniversary gatherings 16.12 30 June 1989: More SLORC attacks on Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD 16.13 28 June 1989 arrest: U Aung Lwin 17. JULY 1989 ARRESTS IN CONNECTION WITH MEMORIAL AND CAMPAIGN GATHERINGS ORGANIZED BY STUDENT GROUPS AND LEGALLY-REGISTERED POLITICAL PARTIES 17.1 Aung San Suu Kyi again criticizes U Ne Win and denies communist influence 17.2 NLD gathering on 2 July 1989 17.3 Arrest on 2 July 1989: U Yan Kyaw alias Ko Yan Kyaw 17.4 NLD gathering on 3 July 1989 17.5 Arrest on 4 July 1989: Win Tin, U Ngwe Hlaing 17.6 NLD gathering and General Saw Maung?s press conference on 5 July 1989 17.7 NLD gatherings on 6 July 1989 and student demonstrations on 7 July 1989 17.8 Arrests on 7 July 1989: Mya Thin, Kyaw Htay U, Aung Kyaw U, Toe Kyaw Hlaing 17.9 NLD and ABFSU gatherings and the Syriam bomb explosion on 7 July 1989 17.10 NLD gathering and the bomb explosion on 10 July 1989 17.11 Arrests on 10 and 13 July 1989: Moe Maung Maung, Tun Kyi, Maung Myat Tu 17.12 NLD plans for Martyrs Day ceremonies on 17 July 1989 17.13 The SLORC ban 17.14 Arrests on 17 July 1989: Zaw Gyi alias Than Zaw alias Nwe Thagi, Nyi Nyi U, Moe Kyaw Thu 17.15 Other arrests on 17 July 1989: Moe Hein, San Maung, Zaw Win Aung, Kyaw Win Moe, Htay Lwin, Khin Maung Tin, Thet Naing alias Htet Naing, Kyaw Lwin Nyunt alias Kyaw Lwin Myint 17.16 Aung San Suu Kyi on summary trials and allegations of NLD involvement in the Syriam bombing 17.17 Arrest on 18 July 1989: Aung Zeya 17.18 SLORC special measures to prevent Martyrs Day gatherings 17.19 The NLD cancels its Martyrs Day gathering 17.20 Student Demonstrations and arrests on 19 July 1989 17.21 Arrests on 20 July 1989 of the NLD leadership: Aung San Suu Kyi, Tin U, Daw Myint Myint Khin, Maung Moe Thu alias U Moe Thu, U Thaw Ka alias U Ba Thaw, Ma Theingi, Myint Shwe, Soe Myat Thu, Moe Myat Thu 17.22 21 July 1989: The SLORC explains the arrests 17.23 Other arrests on and since 20 July 1989 17.23.1 In Yangon on 20 July 1989: Aye Lwin, Ko Hla Twe alias U Hla Htwe 17.23.2 In Mandalay on 25 July 1989: Ko Aung Win alias U Aung Win, Daw Cho Cho Than, Ko Aung Kyaw Myint, Daw Aye Aye Than 18. DEMONSTRATIONS AND ARRESTS ON AND