September 12, 2003

Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) was arrested in September 2000 during her party-organizing trip in Rangoon Division. Other NLD leaders were also placed under house arrest and the authorities closed the NLD head quarters and NLD Rangoon Division branch office. On September 12, NLD members released a statement about these events. (See in the appendix A)

A few days later, military authorities arrested the following persons.
(1) U Naing Naing (Chairperson, Township Organizing Committee, Pazundaung Township, Rangoon Division)
(2) U Aung Myint (Pyapon Ni Lon Oo) (Chairperson, Township Organizing Committee, Bahan Township, Rangoon Division)
(3) U Soe Han (Member, Division Organizing Committee, Rangoon
Division)
(4) U Tun Myint (In charge, Research Department, NLD head quarters)
(5) U Aye Kyu (Monywa Aung Shin) (Executive member, Division Organizing Committee, Sagaing Division)
(6) U Sein Tun Kyaw (Vice chairperson, Division Organizing Committee, Irrawaddy Division)
(Remark: U Sein Tun Kyaw evaded arrest.)

On December 14, 2000, they were sentenced to 21 years imprisonment each with hard labour under the following Acts.
1- The 1950 Emergency Provisions Act, section 5 (j)
2- The 1962 Press Act, section 17
3- The 1962 Press Act, section 20

In the trial reports, the following points emerged:
(1) Intelligence personnel exerted pressure or tortured them in order to obtain false confessions.
(2) They did not have any legal aid or defence at all.
(3) The judge made his decision unfairly by accepting the evidence of the complainant and the Prosecution witnesses (the authorities) and simply ignoring the evidence of the defendants.
(4) The judge and the authorities cooperated in making the case bigger and bigger.
(5) The authorities over used their power by sentencing each of them to 21 years imprisonment for simply writing a statement asking for the freedom of their leaders.
(See the trial reports in the appendix B and C.)

The authorities accused the five persons of trying to destroy the security and stability of the state. The accusation they made is groundless.
They are the NLD's second line leaders. The authorities intentionally gave them long imprisonments because they want to remove these leaders from the opposition movement.

Regarding this crack down, we urge the military authorities as follows;
(1) To release those five persons unconditionally and as soon as possible
(2) To stop arresting politicians who are working according to the law
(3) To totally stop the abuse of the people using power and exploiting the judicial system to their own ends.
(4) To totally stop the founding of "military ruled fake democracy" or "disciplined democracy" which guarantees putting the politicians in prisons continuously.

We urge the people of Burma as follows;
(1) When there is any unfairness or abuses in your community, send photos, records and any information to international organizations or foreign embassies in order to raise public awareness
(2) Do not to cooperate with the military junta
(3) Show support for and assist political prisoners and their families in order to express the people's real desire in the democracy movement.

We urge the international community including governments in Southeast Asian countries as follows;
(1) Exert pressure on the military junta for a democratic system which guarantees basic human rights in Burma
(2) Support calls for the release of all political prisoners who are imprisoned unfairly, including Aung San Suu Kyi

Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)