Oldest Political Prisoner

Oral intervention to the UN Commission on Human Rights
Aliran Kesedaran Negara.
Item 11: Civil and Political Rights
(Delivered by Deborah Stothard, April 5, 2001)

Owing to time constraints, content in [ ] will not be delivered

Mr. Chairman,

I speak on behalf of Aliran Kesedaran Negara.

I come from Southeast Asia, where there is an apparent obsession for breaking records. For example, Malaysia delights in boasting of the highest tower, tallest flagpole, longest serving Prime Minister, most farcical trial, etc etc.

Unfortunately in Burma, the military regime has so impoverished the country they cannot afford to build gigantic structures. Instead, they aspire to the record of having the oldest political prisoner.

I am of course referring to Dr U Saw Mra Aung, elected Member of Parliament for Mrauk-U (1) constituency [in Arakan State]. Dr Saw Mra Aung was born on April 23, 1908; he will become 93 years old during this session of the Commission [on Human Rights]. In October, the regime released six elderly political prisoners at the request of Mr. Razali Ismail, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy [on Myanmar]. Dr Saw Mra Aung was not included in this group. Perhaps the regime assumes that "ancient" is not the same as "elderly"! Dr Saw Mra Aung, who is also the Chairman of the Arakan League for Democracy, has been detained in a military camp outside Rangoon since 1998.

The Burmese regime is also eligible for the record of detaining political prisoners after they have completed their sentences. As we sit here in the Commission, 42 human beings that have already served the full extent of their jail sentences, continue to be unlawfully imprisoned. It is horrendous that these individuals, having been unjustly sentenced in the first place, are still in detention!

[Of this group,] I wish to highlight the situation of student leader, Min Ko Naing. Min Ko Naing continues to be held under harrowing conditions in Sittwe jail [in Arakan State]. In 1989, he was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment; [this was] later commuted to 10 years under a general amnesty. Min Ko Naing was supposed to be a free man two years ago but he continues to be held under conditions that may have permanently disabled him.

[Amnesty International reports that Min Ko Naing was severely tortured and ill-treated during the early stages of his detention and his health has suffered as a consequence.]

Why keep him and the others any longer? Hasn't the regime sufficiently tortured and punished them and their loved ones?

Mr Chairman, owing to constraints of time, I will refrain from speaking of the hundreds of political prisoners, harsh prison conditions, the detentions without trial, the sorry state of the judicial system, religious intolerance and the raging impunity being perpetrated in Burma. I depend on the fact that the members and observers of the Commission have done sufficient reading of UN and other documents to grasp the seriousness of the situation.

Mr. Chairman and respected members of the Commission, I urge you to use all means at your disposal to ensure that Burma's government releases all political prisoners, including those who are sick, who have completed their sentences, the aged, and the ethnic nationality leaders. Further, that the government acknowledges and upholds all the civil and political rights of the peoples of Burma. The government should be reminded that pursuing the record of largest number of political prisoners, largest number of internally displaced people, largest number of youth excluded from education, and so on, is actually not something to be proud of.

The country of Burma celebrates the Buddhist New Year in two weeks' time. It is a tradition

that people release birds and fish in order to gain merit. The Burmese regime should realize that releasing people, instead of birds and fish would gain them infinitely more merit.

Thank you.

(attached photo and bio of Dr U Saw Mra Aung by AAPP)