"... Amnesty International?s widespread concerns about political imprisonment in Myanmar have been reinforced and heightened as a result of information obtained during its December 2003 visit to the country. Arbitrary arrests; torture and ill-treatment during incommunicado detention; unfair trials; and laws which greatly curtail the rights to freedom of expression and assembly continue as major obstacles to the improvement in the SPDC?s human rights record. In the run-up to the reconvening of the National Convention, Amnesty International renews its calls to the SPDC to: 1. release all prisoners of conscience immediately and unconditionally. 2. seriously consider a general amnesty for all political prisoners. 3. stop arresting people solely for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and assembly. 4. in the absence of a legislature, initiate a moratorium on the use of laws restricting the rights to freedom of expression and assembly, particularly the 1950 Emergency Provisions Law; the 1975 State Protection Law; the 1962 Printers and Publishers Law and the 1908 Illegal Associations Law. 5. repeal Law No 5/96, the provisions of which allow for up to 20 years? imprisonment of anyone who drafts a constitution without official permission and otherwise criminalizes the right to freedom of expression and assembly. 6. instruct the police force, including Special Branch officers, and Military Intelligence personnel not to hold detainees in incommunicado detention, a practice which facilitates torture. 7. issue clear orders to all members of the security forces not to torture or otherwise ill-treat detainees. 8. initiate prompt, effective, independent, and impartial investigations into all serious allegations of torture or ill-treatment. 9. bring to justice those found responsible, under internationally agreed standards of fair trial. 10. ensure that international fair trial standards are upheld in political cases, including the right to legal counsel, the right to presumption of innocence, the right to a public trial, the right to defend oneself, and the right to adequate time and resources to prepare a defence. 11. accede to international human rights treaties, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; and the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination."