June 16, 2001

Aye Thar Aung, a well-known Burmese activists serving a 21-year prison sentence, has recently been moved to the Guard Ward at Rangoon General Hospital where he is currently being treated for heart disease, stomach problems and neck pains. His health condition is extremly poor due to the absolute inhumane prison conditions he is subjected to everyday. U Aye Thar Aung has not received adequate medical attention during his incarceration at Rangoon's infamous Insein Prison and as a result of his health condition has continued to deteriorate day by day.

In April of 2000 U Aye Thar Aung was arbitrarily tortured at one of the junta's notorious interrogation centers and it is felt that this incident in paticular has contributed to his failing health as well. He was born in Myaebon Township, Arakan State. He served as a Sergeant Major and worked in Ka-Pa-Sa, the heavy(Military) Industry Corporation.

He was dismissed and imprisoned in Mandalay jail due to his underground political activities and released under amnesty in 1974. After the 1988 democracy uprisring, he became a member of ALD and United National League of Democracy(UNLD) Secretariats. As the military authorities Representing the People's Parliament(CRPP) and he became one of the secretaries in CRPP. In CRPP herepresent the 4 ethnic political parties, Shan National League for Democracy(SNLD), Arakan League for Democracy(ALD), Mon National League for Democracy(MNLD), and Zomi National Congress(ZNC).

In 2000, he met some ethnic minorities for the future dialogue, which includes activists and military authorities. In CRPP bulletins, he wrote some articles on ethnic minorities issues. After he was arrested on April 24,2000, he was given three consecutive 7 years prison terms for violating publication and emergency laws.

He had been denied any legal defense.