May 22, 2001

1. Name: Aung Shwe
2. Sex: Male Age: 83
   Date of birth: July 19, 1918
   Occupation: Chairperson, National League for Democracy
3. Name: Tin Oo
   Sex: Male Age: 73
   Date of birth: 1927
   Occupation: Deputy Chairperson, National League for Democracy
4. Name: Aung San Suu Kyi
   Sex: Female
   Age: 56
   Date of birth: June 19, 1945
   Occupation: Secretary General, National League for Democracy

It is now 8 months since the National League for Democracy (NLD) leaders have been detained. Tin Oo, Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD members were forcibly arrested on September 22, 2000 in Rangoon, after they attempted to board a train from Rangoon to Mandalay, middle Burma. Tin Oo and several other NLD members were taken into detention, while Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest. On the same day, Aung Shwe was also put under house arrest. After 3 months, Tin Oo was moved from detention to house arrest.

Being put under house arrest for months is a definite human rights abuse committed by the military authorities. They are not allowed to leave their homes or receive visits from friends, party members or journalists. Moreover, their telephone lines are totally cut off. Under these conditions, it is clear that these three politicians are being imprisoned in their residences.

We, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), are now concerned that some excuse will be made to return Tin Oo, 74, a respected former Defense Minister and retired general, to prison. Tin Oo was previously arrested 10 months after the NLD was founded. Like Aung San Suu Kyi, Tin Oo was put under house arrest on July 20, 1989. Later, he was imprisoned for three years. We are concerned about the health conditions of those under house arrest, especially 83-year old Aung Shwe.

Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was signed and agreed on by Burma, says, "Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state." and article 20 says, "Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association". The arrest of these politicians is a violation of the articles 13 and 20 of the UDHR because they were trying to travel for peaceful activities.

Therefore, we ask the international community to put more pressure on the Burmese junta for the sake of freedom for these three people. We also urge the Burmese authorities to release these 3 political prisoners from the house arrests.

Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)