February 12, 2001

There are many ethnic minority prisoners in Burmese prisons and detention centers as a result of their peaceful activities in the democracy and human rights movements. For the benefit of the country and the people, they participated in various kinds of activities for decades.

Burmese ethnic minorities took part in the 1990 general election sponsored by the military authorities. After 8 years, as the military authorities refused to accept the 1990 elections, the ethnic political parties, together with National League for Democracy, founded the Committee Representing the People's Parliament (CRPP) in 1998. This is a right guaranteed by Article 21 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, the authorities responded harshly. (Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees the right to participate in government and states that the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government, as expressed in periodic and genuine elections.)

The authorities give long prison terms to those who simply participate in non-violent political activities such as the CRPP. Aye Tha Aung, the Arakanese activist and the secretary of CRPP, was given 21 years imprisonment for meeting with ethnic minority groups to discuss plans for the future and cooperation between the activists and military regime.

Some of the jailed ethnic minority activists are very old; Saw Mra Aung, 93, the chairman of the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) and Cin Shing Thang, 63, the chairman of the Zomi National Congress (ZNC) were arrested in September 1998. ALD and ZNC are founding parties of the CRPP. Allthough the authorities said that these detainess were put in government guesthouses, they are currently in the Ye Mon military camp, a place that is not suitable for living because of poisonous reptiles and various sorts of insects.

To the International Committee of the Red Cross, we request that they pay regular visits to the following ethnic minority prisoners for the sake of their health. We want the international community to know that there are many jailed ethnic minorities who simply took part in the democracy and human rights activities according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was signed and agreed on by Burma.

We AAPP also urge the Burmese military regime, which is emphasizing the non-disintegration of national solidarity, to release the ethnic minorities prisoners unconditionally.

Name: Aye Tha Aung
Sex: Male
Prison: Insein
Minority: Arakanese
Aye Tha Aung is serving a 21-year sentence for his activities in democracy and human rights. 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 uprising, he became a member of ALD and United National League for Democracy (UNLD) Secretariats. As the military authorities refuse to accept the 1990 elections, the political parties founded the Committee Representing the People's Parliament (CRPP) and he became one of the secretaries in CRPP. In CRPP, herepresents the 4 ethnic political parties, Shan National League for Democracy (SNLD), Arakan League for Democracy (ALD), Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF), 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 year prison terms for violating publication and emergency laws. He had been denied any legal defense.

Name: Cin Shing Thang
Sex: Male
Prison: Ye Mon military Camp
Minority: Zomi (Chin)
Fu Cin Shing Thang, 63, has been detained since September 1998. He became a member of the Group for Solidarity among those that were formed by the states for the drafting of the new constitution. He gave advice to the military authorities' constitution drafting committee in 1972 and was subsequently detained by the authorities for 2 years. He is a High Court Advocate and has a Bachelor of Arts (Law) degree and a Bachelor of Law degree from Rangoon University.

He was elected from Tiddim Constituency (2) in the 1990 general elections that were sponsored by the military regime. He is the Chairman of the Zomi National Congress (ZNC). Although the authorities banned the party on March 11, 1992, the party's activities reappeared in mid 1998. On June 6, 1998, Cin Shing Thang, together with 3 other ethnic leaders of powerful parties, asked the military to have a dialogue with democratic activists for the sake of the country's future. Three months later, he was detained but authorities announced that he (and hundreds of activists, including MPs-elect) were invited for dialogue. He is currently in the Ye Mon military camp, a place which is not suitable for living because of poisonous reptiles and various sorts of insects. (Fu is Mr. in Chin.)

Name: Do Htaung
Sex: Male
Prison: Kalay
Minority: Chin
Do Htaung, NLD MP-elect, is currently under detention in Kalay Prison. MI personnel arrested him at midnight on May 21, 1996 while preparing to attend the sixth anniversary of the NLD at Aung San Suu Kyi's residence. After he was released on May 27, 1996, he was arrested again by the MI and was tortured the whole night. His sons, Dr Rodain and Dr Lawn Thaung fled from Burma after the MI attempted to catch them. Some 19 other NLD members, including Ba Min, Tin Cho and Wing Naing were arrested and charged along with Do Htaung under Articles 5(j) of the 1950 Emergency Provision Act.

Do Htaung, 61, is the son of Hlanon and Htanman was born in Bo Kyone Village, Falam Township, Chin State. He passed Medic Training in 1962 with the highest mark in the country and from 1963-1989 he worked as a Medic in Tatalan, Kanpalat, Kale, Molite and Homalin Townships. In 1971, he was detained in Myingyan Prison for 2 years. He participated in the 1988 democracy uprising and became a local NLD leader. In the 1990 election, he was elected from Kale Constituency (1), Sagaing Division.

Name: Duwa Zaw Aung
Sex: Male
Prison: Insein
Minority: Kachin
Duwa Zaw Aung, 68, is currently serving a 7-year prison sentence for his activities in the NLD. He is the son of Duwa Jah and born on September 20, 1933. From 1954-1957 he was the Chairman of the Kachin State Student Union. He was also the Bamaw District Chairman of the Committee for the Promotion of Kachin Culture from 1956-1957 and Chairman of the Kachin State Baptist Church from 1982-1987. He actively participated in the 1988 democracy uprising and became a local leader in the NLD. In the 1990 general election, of which the military government ignored the result, he was elected from Waingmaw Constituency, Kachin State. He stayed secretly in Rangoon when the CRPP was founded in 1998. In August 1999, he was arrested by MI personnel. They sentenced him to 7 years imprisonment for his writings to religious leaders on the subject of solving the political deadlock between the military authorities and NLD.

Name: Khun Myint Tun
Sex: Male
Prison: Mandalay
Ethnic Group: Pa-O
Khun Myint Tun was arrested by MI personnel in May of 1996 along with hundreds of NLD members. In mid 1996, he and 19 other people were accused of contacting the India based Burmese activists. He was charged with disturbing the state peace and stability and was sentenced to seven years in jail.

Later, the authorities found out that in April 1996 he had met with a journalist from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation at Aung San Suu Kyi's residence and that he had given the journalist a video cassette of Aung San Suu Kyi's weekly speeches. He, along with Kyaw Khin, (MP, Shan State), was then sentenced to an additional three years for breaching the 1985 Video Act.

He was born in Theinseik Village, Thaton, Mon State on January 12, 1963, the son of U Hpon Khin and Daw Khin Aye. He graduated with a degree in Geology from Rangoon University in 1983. After he finished studying started his own business with his parents and worked as an assistant teacher. He became a democracy and human rights activist after the1988 uprising. In the 1990 general election, he was elected from Thaton constituency (1) representing the NLD. He was occasionally detained by the authorities when he was working in NLD headquarters from 1993 to 1996. He was arrested in his village and detained in Moulmein and Insein prisons. He is now in Mandalay prison.

Name: Kyin Thein
Sex: Male
Prison: Taungoo
Minority: Mon
Kyin Thein,53, is currently in prison after being sentenced to 7-years in prison under Article 5 (j) of the 1950 Emergency Provision Act. Prior to his arrest he was the Chairman of Kya-in-Seikkyi Township NLD and in charge of the Karen State Organizing Committee. He attended the military controlled National Convention and was a part of the NLD boycott in December 1995.

He led student demonstrations against the military government in 1975 at Moulmein College and was subsequently arrested, and from March to September 1976 was detained in Moulmein Prison as a political prisoner.

He was born in Ye, Mon State. His father is Par O. Kyin Thein has a degree in Geography and worked as a Kya-in-Seikkyi Township Council member in 1985 and was a part time member of the township jury. He became a NLD member and in 1990 general election he was elected in Kya-in-Seikkyi Constituency (2).

Name: Min Soe Lin
Sex: Male
Prison: Moulmein
Minority: Mon
The authorities first arrested Dr. Min Soe Lin in Mudon, Mon State, on November 6, 1997. He was charged under Article 5 (j) of the 1950 Emergency Provision Act and was released from detention a few weeks. The reason for his arrest was his role in organizing celebrations for the 50th Mon National Day on 23 February 1997.

Min Soe Lin, the son of Tha Khin, was born in Kawdon, Ye, Mon State on August 31, 1957. He received his medical degree from the Rangoon Institute of Medicine in 1985. He joined the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF) when it was formed after the 1988 uprising and was the General Secretary of the party. In 1990 elections, he was elected from Ye Constituency (1), Mon State. For his activities in MNDF, he was sentenced to 7-year imprisonment in 1998.

Name: Nine Nine @ Saw Nine Nine
Sex: Male
Prison: Insein
Minority: Karen
Nine Nine, NLD MP-elect is currently serving his 21-year sentence in Insein Prison. Nine Nine, the son of Saw Thein, was born on April 3, 1942 in Kyaik Hto. He has a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management and Administration from Rangoon University. He was a government Trade Corporation Manager from 1967-1983 and resigned from his job in 1983. He then worked as a consultant. After the 1988 uprising, he became the Chairman of Pazundaung Township NLD and elected from Pazundaung Constituency. As a result of his activities with the NLD, he was arrested on October 25, 1990 and sentenced to 10 years under Penal Code Article 122 (1). He was detained in Insein and Thayet prisons.

He rejoined the NLD movement as soon as he was released in 1999. He became a leading member of the Supporting Committee to the NLD youth led by Aung San Suu Kyi. His active activities in this committee and an article in the NLD bulletin was the reason for his arrest on September 13, 2000. He was sentenced to 21-years imprisonment under the act of 5(j), 17(20) and 17(1).

Name: Saw Mra Aung
Sex: Male
Prison: Ye Mon military Camp
Minority: Arakanese
Saw Mra Aung, 93, has been detained without charge by the Burmese junta (State Peace and Development Council), since September 1998. He is the chairman of the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD), which was founded after the 1988 nationwide democracy uprising. ALD won 11 seats in the general election on May 27, 1990 in which Saw Mra Aung was also elected as a Member of Parliament from Mrauk-U Constituency (1), Arakan State. The military regime had no intention of transferring power to the elected representatives, and ALD was banned by the military controlled Election Commission on March 6, 1992.

On June 9, 1998, the 4 elected ethnic leaders, including Saw Mra Aung, appealed to the regime to convene parliament based on the 1990 poll results. On June 23 the National League for Democracy (NLD), which won a landslide victory in the election, also called for the regime to convene the parliament within 60 days. As the regime neglected their demand, the NLD and 4 other ethnic minorities parties founded the Committee Representing the People's Parliament (CRPP) on September 16, 1998.

On September 1998, the military authorities detained hundreds of activists and MPs including Saw Mra Aung. The junta said that the activists were invited to the government guesthouses for dialogue. In reality, they were put in a detention center in Ye Mon garrison town, outside the capital Rangoon. It was announced by the junta that it had arrested 200 MPs and 651 NLD members. (See the junta controlled paper New Light of Myanmar 23-11-98.) Later, they were forced to resign as MPs or from political activities. Every 1 or 2 months, the junta allowed some MPs and Saw Mra Aung to return home for a one night stay.

He was made the chairperson of the People's Parliament on September 17, 1999, when the first statement of the CRPP was issued. Because he was under detention at the time, he wasn't aware of his appointment as chairperson until a few weeks later when was allowed to visit his family. He informed the CRPP that he accepted this position heartily and he would serve this office until his death.

Saw Mya Aung studied medicine in Burma until 1942, when the Japanese occupied Burma, and later continued his studies in Bombay, India where he received his medical degree in 1947. He served as a government worker for two years and then went to Britain for four years where he received further medical degrees.

From 1955-1963 he was the head of Mandalay Hospital and the head of the Medical Education Department of Mandalay Medical College. Saw Mra Aung retired from government service in 1978 and worked for two hospitals in Hong Kong from 1979-1982. He came back to Burma in 1982 and worked as a volunteer specialist at the Sanga (monk) Contribution Hospital and the Nun's Hospital in Rangoon until he was arrested. Saw Mra Aung, the son of Saw Hla Aung and Than San, was born on April 23, 1908 in Mrauk-U, Arakan State.

Name: Saw Oo Reh
Sex: Male
Prison: Loikaw
Minority: Kayah
Saw Oo Reh is currently imprisoned in Loikaw, Kayah State and is suffering from serious diabetes and kidney problems. He is 73-years old. He was hospitalized in July 1997 as a result of his health problems and although in shackles, was tied to his hospital bed. His son-in-law, Aung Myint, fled to Thailand in October 1997 after being forcibly recruited as a porter for the army and reported at that time that Saw Oo Reh's health was declining. He was arrested in December 1996 and charged with financially supporting the outlawed Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and writing a book entitled ' The Crisis of Kayah State and Causes of Civil War in Burma'. He was charged under the Association with Illegal Organizations Act and the 1962 Printing and Publishing Act, and sentenced to 17 years imprisonment. Prior to his arrest, on November 18, 1996, the Election Commission announced that he had resigned as an MP. It is understood that the military used intimidation to force him to resign. He joined the NLD after the August 1988 uprising and was a member of the Kayah State Organization Committee. In the1990 general election, he was elected from the Phruso constituency. He was then a Central Committee member of the NLD and boycotted the military sponsored National Convention on December 28, 1995.

Saw Oo Reh was born on August 30, 1928 and is son of U Toe Reh. He was educated up to Seventh Standard and during World War II he served as Sergeant with spider-badge paratroop unit 136. He was a candidate in the 1960 election, and was a representative of the Parliament from 1974-1978 for Phruso Township, Kayah State.

Name: Toe Po
Sex: Male
Prison:
Minority: Tavoyan
Toe Po, a NLD MP-elect, is serving a 7-year sentence for his activities in democracy and human rights.

During the 1988 democracy uprising he joined the demonstrations as a patron of the Workers' Union of Industry Ministry no-1. When the military came to power he was forced to resign from his position as Deputy Director of the Ministry. In 1964 he had joined the Army and retired as a Captain in 1981. He worked for the Ministry of Industry no.1 for 5 years in Tavoy and 2 years in Pegu. Toe Po, the son of U Pe Chit, was born on November 17, 1939 in Palaw, Tenasserim Division.

In the 1990 military sponsored general election, he was elected from Yebyu Constituency, Tenasserim Division. Although the military refused to accept the 1990 election results, he, like the majority of other MPs, carry on democracy and human rights activities. He became a key member in NLD's Social Supporting Committee that has been working especially for the political prisoners. He was arrested in September 1998.

AAPP Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)