ALIRAN

ALIRAN

Item 9: Question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world

(Delivered by Deborah Stothard, Aliran Kesedaran Negara, NGO speaker 53)

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

Mr. Chairman,

[I hope the Commission will accept my apologies. Last year I said political prisoner Dr U Saw Mra Aung was 93 years old. I have since found out that he is actually 83 years old, although he must have felt the extra 10 years by the time the Burmese military junta released him on June 14, 2001].

While every prisoner release in Burma is welcome, I am extremely concerned that at the current rate [of releases], Professor Pinheiro will have to travel to Burma for at least another 50 or 60 times before most of the political prisoners can be freed. I am sure budgetary constraints would make such frequency of travel practically impossible. [In addition, the Burmese military regime tends to "recycle" i.e. rearrest political prisoners for the sheer joy of releasing them in dribs and drabs.]

The regime clings on to prisoners who are aging, frail or ill. It is extremely distressing to note that a significant number of people are doomed to spend their golden years in jail. Is this what the Burmese junta means by Myanmar culture?

Is this the reason Dr. Salai Tun Than [aged 74] was recently sentenced to 7 years jail? Why award-winning journalist U Win Tin [aged 72] is in jail, as is Nai Ngwe Thein [aged 76] and MP Saw Oo Reh [aged 73]? Why are there still so many senior citizens languishing in Burmese jails? Does the Burmese regime imagine that jails are retirement villas?

While I understand that the release of all political prisoners may cause severe culture shock to the Burmese authorities, it is perfectly reasonable to expect that those who are aged, ill or have completed their sentences will be released. Those lucky to have exceeded the nation’s average life expectancy of 58.4 years should not be detained.

Although U Aye Thar Aung, is a "spring chicken" at only 56 years old, I am also greatly concerned about his health. [He is serving a 21-year sentence].

The junta garnered much praise for releasing nearly 200 female prisoners last month. Why did they fail to release 90 women political prisoners? [listed in the attached document]

Four of these women are serving life sentences. One of them is Daw Khin Khin Leh, who was arrested with her 3-year-old daughter and other family members [in 1999]. [The junta kindly released her child, but made up for it by giving the adults lengthy jail sentences. Daw Khin Khin Leh herself was sentenced to life because she was married to an activist.]

Another bizarre example of the Burmese regime’s family values is the case of Daw Aye Myint Than, 47, serving 21 years jail, in solitary confinement [at Myaung Mya Prison, despite having a stroke in mid-2000]. She will be 66 years old by the time she completes her sentence. Also 66 at the end of her jail sentence will be her daughter - 26 year old Hninn May Aung now serving 42 years at Insein prison.

Mr. Chairman and members of the Commission,

Despite the much talked-about talks between the Burmese authorities and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the human rights situation for the peoples of Burma has not significantly improved. The talks have gone on long enough. The military authorities should be sent a clear message that it is time for results. Otherwise, the confidence-building amounts to nothing more than a confidence trick.

Thank you.

NOTES:

DR SALAI TUN THAN, aged 74 or 71 (according to various reports) is a retired professor. He was sentenced to 7 years in jail for staging a lone peaceful protest on November 29, 2001, in front of Rangoon City Hall. He was trying to distribute copies of a petition letter calling for general elections.

U WIN TIN, 72, is a journalist detained since 1989. His detention has been prolonged several times. . He was sentenced to a total of twenty years for sending to the UN special rapporteur for Burma a document on prison conditions and mistreatment in Insein prison. Despite his age and failing health, the authorities detained him for some time in a dog kennel without bedding. He was awarded the Golden Pen of Freedom as well as the UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Award.

NAI NGWE THEIN, 76, Vice-Chairman of the Mon National Democratic Front was arrested in 1998 along with other party leaders for their support of the Committee Representing the People’s Parliament (CRPP). He was sentenced to 14 years’ jail under the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act and the 1962 Printers and Publishers Registration Act. He was previously detained for peaceful political activities between 1991 and 1994.

SAW OO REH, 73, Member of Parliament for Phruso, Karenni State. Arrested at the end of 1996 and sentenced to 10 years’ jail. Currently detained in Loikaw Prison. Suffers from severe diabetes and kidney problems.

U AYE THAR AUNG, 56, represented the Shan National for Democracy, Arakan League for Democracy, Mon National Democratic Front and Zomi National Congress at the CRPP. He was sentenced to 21 years’ jail in 2000. He has been in poor health since.

DAW KHIN KHIN LEH, 35, a teacher, was arrested along her 3-year-old daughter and with several close relatives in July 1999 for being married to an activist. The arrests were part of a crackdown against activists for planning a peaceful march. Her daughter, Thaint Wunna Khin was released after 5 days. She is serving her life sentence in Insein prison. Other people arrested with her received lengthy jail sentences, including life imprisonment.

DAW AYE MYINT THAN, 47, Rangoon Division Women Organising Committee member and Secretary of Thingangyun Township NLD, was arrested on 6th September 1998. She was later sentenced under 5(j) of the Emergency Provision Act to 21 years imprisonment because of her support for the CRPP

HNINN MAY AUNG (A) NOBEL AYE, 26, daughter of Daw Aye Myint Than, was sentenced to 42 years under the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act 5(j) in 1998 October. She was sentenced 7years jail for each for the 6 charges laid against her. She is a member of NLD Rangoon Division Youth Wing.

Female Political Prisoners in Burma

	Name	Sentence	Prison
1	Aung San Suu Kyi, Daw		house arrest
2	Shwe Pone, Dr	Life Sentence	Mandalay
3	Thida Htway @ Thuza, Ma	Life Sentence	Tharawaddy
4	Mya, Daw	Life Sentence	Insein
5	Khin Khin Leh, Ma	Life Sentence	Insein
6	Hninn May Aung @ Noble Aye, Ma	42 years (6 charges x 7 yrs.)	Insein
7	Tin Tin, Ma	25 years
8	Aye Myint Than, Daw	21 years	Myaungmya
9	Aye Than, Daw	21 years	Insein
10	Kyu Kyu Mar, Ma	21 years	Insein
11	Mya Sabae Moe, Ma	21 years	Shwebo
12	Naykyar, Ma	2 years	Kale
13	Than Than Htay, Ma	17 years	Insein
14	Hninn Hninn Phwe, Ma	14 years (7+7 years)	Tharawaddy
15	Kyi Kyi Win, Ma	14 years	Mandalay
16	Mar Mar Oo, Ma	14 years	Insein
17	Phyo Phyo Aye	14 years	Insein
18	Than Nyunt, Ma	14 years	Insein
19	Thitsa, Ma	14 years
20	Yee Yee Tun, Ma	14 years	Tharawaddy
21	Tin Tin Yee, Ma	13 years	Insein
22	Yu Yu Hlaing, Ma	12 years	Tharawaddy
23	Aye Aye Swe, Ma	10 years	Bassein
24	Khin Cho Myint @ Zulu, Ma	10 years	Moulmein
25	Kyu, Ma	10 years	Insein
26	Nilar Thein, Ma	10 years	Tharawaddy
27	Sein May, Daw	10 years	Insein
28	Soe Soe Khaing, Ma	10 years	Mandalay
29	Thein Htay, Ma	10 years	Insein
30	Tin Tin Myint, Ma	10 years	Insein
31	Tin Yee @ Khin Yee, Ma	10 years
32	Aye Aye Win, Ma	7 years	Insein
33	Chan Mya Aung, Ma	7 years	Insein
34	Cho, Ma	7 years	Insein
35	Cho Mar Htway, Ma	7 years
36	Ei Shwe Zin Nyunt, Ma	7 years	Tharawaddy
37	Hninn Mya Aung, Ma	7 years	Mandalay
38	Kalaya, Ma	7 years	Insein
39	Khin Aye Aye Mar, Ma	7 years	Insein
40	Khin Cho Myint, Ma	7 years	Mandalay
41	Khin Lay Nge, Ma	7 years	Insein
42	Khin Mar Kyi, Dr	7 years	Mandalay
43	Khin Mar Yee, Ma	7 years	Insein
44	Khin Moe Aye, Ma	7 years	Insein
45	Khin San Aye, Ma	7 years	Mandalay
46	Khin Soe Win, Ma	7 years	Mandalay
47	Kyi Kyi Mar, Ma	7 years	Insein
48	Lay Lay Mon, Ma	7 years	Myaungmya
49	Leh Leh Cho, Ma	7 years	Mandalay
50	Ma Ma Aye, Daw	7 years	Insein
51	Mar Mar Oo, Ma	7 years	Tharawaddy
52	May Win Myint, Dr (MP)	7 years	Insein
53	Mi Mi Aung, Ma	7 years
54	Myint Myint San, Ma	7 years	Mandalay
55	Ni Ni Yin @ Chaw Chaw, Ma	7 years	Insein
56	Ohnmar, Ma	7 years	Mandalay
57	San San Win,Ma	7 years	Mandalay
58	Saw Hlaing, Daw	7 years
59	Suu Suu Win, Ma	7 years	Insein
60	Thein Kywe, Dr	7 years	Insein
61	Thi Thi Aung, Ma	7 years	Tharawaddy
62	Thida Win, Ma	7 years	Tharawaddy
63	Thin Thin Aye @ Mi Mi, Ma	7 years	Insein
64	Tin Mar Kyi, Daw	7 years	Mandalay
65	Tin Mar Ni, Daw	7 years	Mandalay
66	Tin Mar Yee, Daw	7 years	Mandalay
67	Win Win Htay @ Po, Ma	7 years	Insein
68	Zin Mar Aung, Ma	7 years	Mandalay
69	Hla Hla Win, Ma	6 years
70	Hninn Pa Pa, Ma	5 years	Mandalay
71	Khin Kyi Kyi, Ma	5 years	Mandalay
72	Khin Soe Win, Ma	5 years	Prome
73	Khin Than Aye, Ma	5 years	Mandalay
74	Myaing, Ma	5 years	Mandalay
75	Tin Tin Aye, Ma	5 years	Mandalay
76	Tin Win Kyi, Ma	5 years	Mandalay
77	Win Mya Mya, Ma	5 years	Mandalay
78	Khin Ma Gyi, Daw	3 years	Insein
79	Khin Myint, Ma	3 years	Insein
80	Khin Sint, Daw	3 years	Insein
81	Saite, Ma	3 years	Kale
82	Khin Soe Myint, Ma	Unknown	Moulmein
83	Khin Tint, Daw	Unknown	Insein
84	Khin Win Kyi, Ma	Unknown	Insein
85	Ohn Mya, Ma	Unknown	Insein
86	Phyo Phyo Yee, Ma	Unknown
87	Sandi Win, Ma	Unknown
88	Thant Shwe Aye, Dr	Unknown	Mandalay
89	Thanda Oo, Ma	Unknown	Insein
90	Tin Zar Aung, Ma	Unknown

as at February 4, 2002 from the Research & Documentation Unit Prime Minister Office (East), National Coalition Government of Union of Burma.