August 7, 2004

The regime detained two parliament members, Dr. Than Nyein and Dr. May Win Myint, who are in Insein prison, under the State Protection Law, Article 10 (A). The two parliament members were put in prison in October 1997, under the Emergency Provision Act, Section 5 (J), and now they have completed their sentences.

Article 10 of the State Protection Law says that the "Central Board, in the protection of the State against dangers, has the right to implement the following measures through restrictive order: (a) a person against whom action is taken can be detained for a period of up to ninety days. This can be extended to a period not exceeding 180 days; (b) if necessary, the movements of a person against whom action is taken can be restricted for a period up to one year." Article 22 of the State Protection Law says that “any person against whom action is taken, who opposes, resists or disobeys any order passed under this Law shall be liable to imprisonment for a period of up to 5 years, or to a fine of up to 50000 kyats, or to both.

Dr. Than Nyein, 67, severely suffers from a gastric ulcer, prostate, liver and heart diseases. The Democratic Voice of Burma aired the comments of Daw Khin Aye, Dr. Than Nyein’s wife, on August 3, 2004 as follows:
“I really worry about his health. I don’t understand why a man in such bad health and not guilty is still not released. He seemed very angry because of his detention under Article 10(A) without any reason. But I did not experience any of his depression.” Dr. Than Nyein is a Parliament Member of the National League for Democracy and was elected for the Kyauktan constituency in the 1990 election.

U Win Myint, Dr. May Win Myint’s husband, often visits her and said, “She has heart disease and now has to take medicine regularly,” to the Democratic Voice of Burma on August 3, 2004. U
Win Myint also said that his wife steadfastly stands strong in prison.
Dr. May Win Myint is a Parliament Member of the NLD, and was elected for the Mayangone No.2 constituency in the 1990 election.

The following international organizations have been demanding the unconditional release of these two MPs.

Alliance for Reform and Democracy in Asia <www.arda-asia.org>
American Association for the Advancement of Science
<www.aaas.org>
Amnesty International <www.amnesty.org>
Foreign Prisoner Support Service <www.phaseloop.com>
Human Rights Watch <www.hrw.org>
Inter-Parliamentary Union < www.ipu.org >
International Network of Engaged Buddhists < www.nikocity.de >
Physicians for Human Rights <www.phrusa.org>

Tate Naing, secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), said, "We are grateful for the actions of these international organizations in calling for the release of the two
elected parliament members who were unjustly detained. We also request further actions calling for their immediate release."

Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)