BurmaNet News, November 19, 2004

[Editor]

November 19, 2004, Issue # 2605

ANNOUNCEMENT: Burmese student leader Min Ko Naing, detained for 14 years
for his role in the 1988 democracy uprising, was released from Siitwe
Prison and has returned to Rangoon, reports US Campaign for Burma. His
release comes amid an amnesty by the military junta to prisoners in Burma.
Reports are varied on the number of prisoners, particularly political
prisoners, being released.

INSIDE BURMA
AFP:Prisoners to be freed in Burma
Mizzima: U Win Tin not free
AFP: Prominent Myanmar pro-democracy figures part of mass prison release
Xinhua New Agency: Lao Deputy PM visits Myanmar

ON THE BORDER
Mizzima: The opposite side of border fence

DRUGS
Xinhua News Agency: Four sentenced to death in China for trafficking drugs

REGIONAL
Xinhua News Agency: 50 injured as Myanmar refugees in Bangladesh clash
with police

INTERNATIONAL
AFP: ILO revives sanctions threat against Myanmar

OPINION / OTHER
Irrawaddy: Is the time ripe for the opposition to move?

PRESS RELEASE
US Campaign for Burma: Breaking News Update--MIN KO NAING FREED!!!
Amnesty International: Myanmar: Prisoners of conscience freed

______________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

November 20, Agence France-Presse
Prisoners to be freed in Burma

Rangoon: Burma's military government said it had begun releasing thousands
of prisoners who may have been wrongly imprisoned by a recently disbanded
military intelligence unit.

State radio said 3937 prisoners were being released throughout the
country. It did not say when the releases would be completed.

"It is concluded that the National Intelligence Bureau may have used
irregular and improper means to put them into prison," the radio reported.

The National Intelligence Bureau, which gave officers loyal to deposed
prime minister Khin Nyunt widespread powers, was abolished late last
month.

Khin Nyunt, the head of military intelligence for two decades, was ousted
in mid-October and is under house arrest over corruption allegations.

The move against him was seen as a step by Than Shwe, the head of the
junta known as the State Peace and Development Council, to consolidate
control over the leadership and promote military hardliners.

Amnesty International in its 2004 report said more than 1350 political
prisoners remained in Burma's jails.

The country has never admitted to holding political prisoners. However,
under international pressure, in 2002 and 2003 it freed some in small
groups of four or five, citing "humanitarian" reasons.

Burma's leadership has been riven as political and business rivalry
between a military intelligence faction and the mainstream military has
intensified.

The military has ruled Burma since 1962 and has maintained its grip on
power following a landslide election win by the opposition National League
for Democracy in 1990.

It has been under international pressure over human rights and democracy,
particularly because of the world's focus on the National League for
Democracy's Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, who is kept
under house arrest by the military rulers.

____________________________________

November 19, Mizzima News
U Win Tin not free

National League for Democracy party spokesperson U Lwin denied on report
that U Win Tin was released.

"His son called to me just five minutes ago, U Win Tin didn't release",
said U Lwin via telephone.

Last a few hour ago, AFP reported U Win Tin, 74-years-old writer and
senior member of NLD was freed. Moreover, eyewitness from Rangoon also
said U Win Tin was released.

But U Lwin said Major Kyaw San, U Ohn Maung and U Toe Bo were released.

U Lwin added Dr. Than Nyein's family members have been waiting at house
but didn't arrive.

____________________________________

November 19, Agence France Presse
Prominent Myanmar pro-democracy figures part of mass prison release

Military-ruled Myanmar on Friday freed several prominent opposition party
figures as part of a mass prisoner release one month after a power
struggle ousted the country's premier.

Several members of the opposition National League for Democracy said Win
Tin, a former NLD top executive and confidante to detained party leader
Aung San Suu Kyi, was among those freed, but uncertainty swirled over his
fate as others said he remained at Yangon's Insein prison as of late
Friday.

NLD central executive committee member Than Tun said Win Tin was released
along with female provincial MP Mey Win Myint, and expected more political
prisoners, especially those who were ailing or elderly, to be freed.

Win Tin, 74 and in ill health, has spent the last 15 years behind bars,
with several international human rights groups and the United Nations
demanding his release.

"Political party members appeared to be released singly and driven away in
cars to their homes," an NLD member told AFP outside the gates of Insein
prison, where hundreds of people including 100 NLD members had gathered to
welcome freed comrades.

"We saw at least four persons including Win Tin being driven away in
cars," the member said.

But the man who authorities have allowed to meet with Win Tin during his
time in jail said that while the award-winning writer was "on the list to
be released", there was no evidence he had been freed.

"I went to see him today but I was not allowed to go in," said the source
who requested anonymity. "I will be seeing him there tomorrow."

Party spokesman U Lwin said he could not confirm the release either.

"All of this has been something of a surprise to us," U Lwin said.

Win Tin was arrested in July 1989 during a crackdown on the pro-democracy
movement, after civil unrest which had erupted the year before was
brutally suppressed.

Also freed were NLD MPs Kyaw San, Ohn Maung, Toe Bo and Aung Zin, an NLD
source said, while MP Khun Sai was said to have been released from Shwebo
prison in central Myanmar.

Diplomats and observers praised the move as the first gesture of openness
by the reclusive regime that last month dismissed its pragmatist prime
minister Khin Nyunt in favour of a hardline general.

"It is an overture to the international community which has become more
and more stern" in its approach to the junta, which has come under
withering criticism from international quarters, a Western diplomat said.

He stressed however that it was "not possible" that Aung San Suu Kyi or
her NLD deputy Tin Oo would be among those freed in the move.

Hundreds of detainees were seen by an AFP correspondent filing out of
Insein prison as part of the release of 3,937 inmates ordered Thursday by
the junta, which said they may have been wrongfully jailed by a military
intelligence unit disbanded in the wake of the political shakeup.

A freed female prisoner told AFP there were some 1,000 inmates marked for
freedom Friday. "More will be coming out," she said.

The government has thrown scores of NLD members into detention, including
Aung San Suu Kyi and Tin Oo, since May last year when their convoy was
attacked by a junta-backed mob in northern Myanmar.

State radio said the detainees were being freed from jails throughout the
country, but the lack of detail or mention of who the prisoners were left
many guessing as to the junta's motives for the largest prison release in
years.

One Yangon-based observer dismissed the release as a ploy to ease
widespread international condemnation of the dismissal of prime minister
Khin Nyunt and his replacement by a hardline general.

"These are damage-control measures taken by the military hierarchy to
negate some of the negative developments here," the observer said.

For years Khin Nyunt had headed the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB),
which gave officers loyal to him widespread powers. It was abolished
shortly after Khin Nyunt was purged, and state media reported Thursday
that the convicts were released in light of "irregularities" committed by
the NIB.

Amnesty International in its 2004 report said more than 1,350 political
prisoners remained imprisoned in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.

The military has ruled Myanmar since 1962 despite the NLD winning a
landslide election in 1990.

____________________________________

November 19, Xinhua New Agency
Lao Deputy PM visits Myanmar

Lao Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad has paid an unannounced and
brief visit to Myanmar to study the latest development of the country's
situation, diplomatic sources said on Friday.

In his visit to Yangon on Thursday, Somsavat, who is also Foreign
Minister, met with Myanmar new prime minister Lieutenant- General Soe Win
and had discussions with Foreign Minister U Nyan Win, exchanging views on
the matters relating to the forthcoming 10th Summit of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the sources said.

The ASEAN summit is scheduled for Nov. 29-30 in Vientiane, Laos.

Soe Win will represent Myanmar at the regional summit, according to the
sources.

Soe Win became prime minister in a major cabinet reshuffle on Oct. 19,
replacing former's General Khin Nyunt.

Both Myanmar and Laos are ASEAN members, joining the regional grouping in
July 1997.

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

November 18, Mizzima News
The opposite side of border fence - Surajit Khaund

Lian comes to Champhai early in the morning from Burma and returns in the
evening to earn 50 to 100 rupees ( 43 rupees equals one US dollar).

The 15-year-old school dropout, a Chin ethnic girl, lives in a village
just opposite Champhai, but she comes regularly by walking and works as a
sex worker.

"I have been in this profession for the last two years to support my
family. I got this connection from one of my friends who is also a sex
worker," said Lian (her actual name is concealed).

Lian is not alone. There are hundreds of Burmese sex workers in Champhai
and Zokhathar , small bordering towns of northeast India, becoming
attracted to that business. They come to nearby areas early in the morning
in quest of customers.

Hundreds of Burmese girls living in bordering areas of the country have
resorted to the path of the flesh trade for their livelihood, leading to
serious health problems among them. The problem has reached such a
magnitude that more and more girls are involved in that business, ignoring
the AIDS threat.

What is more alarming is that girls aged 13 to 15 have taken this path
even though they are aware of the AIDS threat. Though this has been going
on for the past several years, the authorities concerned seem aloof,
failing to take any positive action in this regard.

"We have to run this business so our parents can feed us properly," Zina,
a thin school-age girl, said softly while her two friends were talking to
customers.

Despite repeated pleas, the girls refused to disclose their identity,
saying they have been in this profession to maintain their family members.
The girls have to enter India defying all odds to earn money. Sometimes
they get stranded in the forest due to gearup operations by security
forces on both sides of the border.

Although the Mizoram government has already asked police to gear up
operations, fearing the spread of AIDS, the move has very little impact
among the sex workers.

The girls also made a startling revelation, saying customers can manage
everything by paying money, and some don't want to use a condom.

Champhai police said the problem is due to economic disparity and the poor
financial position of the Burmese people. "The problem is serious and we
are trying to create awareness among the Chin girls involved in the flesh
trade," he said.

The problem is also taking a serious turn in Moreh, India, said to be a
major trading points between India and Burma. Girls come to the border
town from Tamu, Kabaw Valley and Namphalang in Burma to have sex with
Indians. About 100 to 200 Burmese girls come to India depending on demand.
Bur during the festive season, more girls come to the Moreh area, a
resident said.

Chitra Anthem, who runs Manipur Positive, an NGO, observed that the flesh
trade has become a serious problem in bordering areas of India. "According
to our estimate, there are 1,000 sex workers in Moreh, but this is a rough
estimate for which a proper survey is required," she said. The current
population of Moreh is 15,800 according to official statistics.

_____________________________________
HEALTH/AIDS

_____________________________________
DRUGS

November 19, Xinhua News Agency
Four sentenced to death in China for trafficking drugs

A court in northwest China's Shaanxi Province sentenced four drug
traffickers to death Thursday 19 November . The Intermediate People's
Court of the provincial capital Xi'an ordered death penalty for Yang
Naijun, Liu Tianshun and Du Songhua, the three leaders of the province's
most notorious drug trafficking case.

The court also sentenced accomplices Li Quanfa to death with two years
reprieve and Li Quanxi to 15 years in prison. The ring transport drugs to
the inland province from the southwestern border.

Court investigation shows Yang, a native of Yunnan Province who was living
in Myanmar Burma , was paid 600,000 yuan (72,300 US dollars) between
December 2003 and January 2004 to buy drugs for Liu, a citizen of Xi'an.
Liu, Du and Li smuggled the drugs back to Xi'an on an aeroplane by hiding
it in tins of cakes.

The three were seized by police authorities in Xi'an early in January,
when they had just come back from one of these trips and were about to
leave the airport. Police found about 7,120 grams of heroin in their car
and an additional 3,234 grams later at Liu's home. Yang was seized in
Myanmar on 14 January with concerted efforts of Chinese and international
police. The Xi'an court also ruled that all the four be deprived of
political rights and their personal property confiscated.

_____________________________________
REGIONAL

November 19, Xinhua News Agency
50 injured as Myanmar refugees in Bangladesh clash with police

At least 50 persons, including a magistrate and members of law-enforcing
agencies, were injured during clashes with Rohingya refugees of Myanmar at
the Kutupalong camp in Bangladesh's southeastern district of Cox's Bazar
Thursday.

During the two-hour incident, police arrested nine "Rohingya terrorists,"
the official news agency of Bangladesh BSS reported Thursday.

More than 200 rounds of shots were exchanged during the clash. The police
fired 99 rounds of blank shots to disperse the crowd, it said.

Seven injured policemen and ansars (militia) were admitted to Cox's Bazar
Hospital.

Police and local sources said a police team led by Inspector Wahid went to
the refugee camp on a hill after receiving an information that a group of
terrorists were holding a meeting there. The Rohingya terrorists started
fleeing sensing the presence of police.

When the policemen captured a terrorist and two Rohingya people, the other
terrorists attacked them. Inspector Wahid received serious injuries.

When the news of arrest of Rohingyas spread, about 500 Rohingyas led by
over 50 outsiders, who opposed the repatriation, attacked the police and
ansar barracks with lethal weapons.

They pelted bricks, fired shots and held the policemen and Ansars,
including the camp in-charge magistrate, hostage.

A fierce clash took place when a reinforced police team rushed to the spot.

A tense situation is prevailing at the Kutupalong refugee camp. Additional
police forces have been deployed at the refugee camp to keep the situation
under control.

Acting Commissioner of the Relief and Repatriation Commission Mohammad
Siddique and officials of the UN High Commission for Refugees at Cox's
Bazar visited the spot.


_____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

November 19, Agence France Presse
ILO revives sanctions threat against Myanmar

The International Labour Organisation on Friday warned Myanmar's
government that it was ready to revive sanctions, after the agency
concluded that the military junta had shown little political will to stop
forced labour.

The ILO's governing body decided late Thursday to send a high-level
delegation to evaluate the military junta's commitment to work with the
international community on the issue, officials said.

The mission will report back to the governing body's next meeting in March
2005, which will then "draw the appropriate consequences," the ILO's
Myanmar liaison officer, Richard Horsey, told journalists.

It will "either return to special measures which were taken against
Myanmar in 2000, or on the other hand go ahead with the plan of action
against forced labour," he added.

Horsey said the recent ousting of premier Khin Nyunt last month had "left
a certain number of questions about the continued willingness of the
Myanmar government to tackle this very serious problem".

Khin Nyunt's removal was reported to be a move by Than Shwe, the head of
the junta, to consolidate control over the leadership and promote military
hardliners.

The ILO's governing body took the unprecedented step of recommending the
measures -- trade and other sanctions -- in 2000 because of a lack of
cooperation by Myanmar authorities in tackling rampant forced labour.

Although the sanctions remain legally in force, the UN's labour agency
adopted a wait-and-see approach after Myanmar allowed an ILO official into
the country and agreed to discuss a plan of action against forced labour.

"Now the question is to send a signal that this process of dialogue and
cooperation has not produced the required impact," Horsey said.

"The mission will not evaluate forced labour, it is to evaluate the will
of the Myanmar government at the highest level," he added.

The climate was also soured by the arrest of three people in Myanmar on
treason charges because they had been in contact with the ILO, and other
similar incidents, Horsey said.

The three were sentenced to death earlier this year, but the country's
supreme court later commuted the sentence to two or three years in jail.

Myanmar's military government on Thursday announced it had begun releasing
3,937 prisoners who may have been wrongly imprisoned by a recently
disbanded military intelligence unit.

Horsey had no idea if the three were among those due to be released.

The military has ruled Myanmar since 1962 despite the opposition National
League for Democracy winning a landslide election in 1990.

Horsey reiterated in a report to the governing body this week that forced
labour was still widespread in the country, especially in border areas
with a major army presence.

Apart from continuing complaints about the practice for construction work
and on plantations, he also signalled allegations of forced recruitment of
children into the army, including a 13 year-old boy snapped up from the
streets of the capital Yangon.

The ILO agreed with Myanmar on a plan of action to eradicate forced labour
last May 28, but shelved it two days later when the junta detained
pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi after a clash between her supporters
and a junta-backed mob.

Myanmar has repeatedly rejected criticism of its human rights record,
while ILO complaints on specific cases of forced labour have been denied.

The ILO is a tripartite organisation involving more than 190 governments,
as well as labour unions and employers.

_____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

November 19, Irrawaddy
Is the time ripe for the opposition to move? - Nandar Chann

When crisis hits a ruling regime, the time is ripe for an effective
opposition to move into action. It happened once in Burma’s recent
history, when nationalist activists thew off the British colonial yoke at
a time of crisis in Britain and its Asian empire.

Will it happen again following the political shakeup in Rangoon and the
purge of Gen Khin Nyunt and his Military Intelligence framework? Are
Burma’s opposition groups in any fit state to take advantage of the
political turmoil surrounding Khin Nyunt’s sudden departure from the
scene?

“Opposition forces should move while the SPDC (the ruling State Peace and
Development Council) is beset by conflicts,” says Fu Cin Sian Thang, an
ethnic Zomi member of the Committee for Representing the People’s
Parliament, or CRPP.

The CRPP was established by the main opposition National League for
Democracy, or NLD, and by a number of smaller ethnic-based political
parties on September 16, 1998, SPDC failed to respond to demands to
recognize the results of the 1990 elections. The CRPP said it would
continue to call for parliament to sit and work like a legislature until
it is properly convened.

NLD, for its part, has been accused of acting like a bystander. Some of
its members actually accused the party of behaving like a dictatorial
government, expelling three members and suspending 27 for one year for
organizing a march by more than 30 activists on the Rangoon offices of the
UN Development Program, or UNDP.

The march was held on September 27, the 16th anniversary of the NLD’s
founding. Marchers submitted a letter to the UNDP calling for the release
of party leaders held under house arrest.

“We sympathize with those active members (who participated in the march),”
said Fu Cin Sian Thang, who is also a Chairman of Zomi National Congress.
He said the NLD sanctions against them were “not good sign for the
opposition.”

There have also been calls by NLD members nationally for reform of the
movement’s Central Committee, and for an expansion of its Central
Executive Committee to include younger members equipped to help in major
decision-making and the effective exercise of party activities.

Currently, the NLD is run by nine Central Executive Committee members,
although two of these are under house arrest.

“Many Burmese people are not happy with the way the party is functioning,”
said a Rangoon NLD member of parliament. “So, on their behalf, we members
of parliament call on the party to reform.”

In addition, 14 NLD members of parliament from the Irrawaddy Division
urged their executive leaders to call for parliament to be convened before
May 27, 2005. If the executive leaders failed to do this, the 14 MPs say
they will withdraw their support for the mandate of nine Central Executive
Committee members.

The nine Central Executive Committee members received their mandate in
September 1996 from 251 MPs, including representatives of ethnic political
groups, all of them pressing for an increase in political for the
achievement of democracy in Burma.

Forty three NLD members of parliament have also called for the party’s
executive members to arrange for all NLD MPs to meet with the CRPP and to
discuss current political situation within the opposition groups,
according to a party member.

Crisis has hit the regime—that’s a fact. But it’s doubtful if the time is
yet ripe for the opposition to take advantage of the situation.

_____________________________________
PRESS RELEASE

November 19, US Campaign for Burma
Breaking News Update--MIN KO NAING FREED!!!

Dear friends of freedom in Burma:

WE HAVE INCREDIBLE NEWS!!! And a note of caution... But first the good
news: Burma's second most prominent political prisoner after Aung San Suu
Kyi, a student leader named Min Ko Naing, has been released!!!  He just
arrived at his home two hours ago and is with his family now in Rangoon! 
We are thrilled, excited, elated, and SO THANKFUL to THOSE OF YOU THAT
HAVE WORKED SO HARD FOR HIS RELEASE FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS!!!  THANK YOU
THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

Along with this good news, rumors have been swirling that Burma's ruling
military regime released thousands of political prisoners in Burma.  SO
FAR WE BELIEVE THIS IS NOT TRUE.  THERE HAS BEEN NO MASS RELEASE OF
POLITICAL PRISONERS IN BURMA YET.

Based in information from our sources in Rangoon and our colleagues with
the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, we believe that about
600 prisoners all across Burma are being released.  Of this group, only
about 13 are political prisoners (the rest being criminals).   It has been
reported that 30 political prisoners were released, but that (as of this
writing) is NOT YET CONFIRMED.

Importantly--the leadership of the democracy movement--Aung San Suu Kyi, U
Tin Oo, U Win Tin, and others have not been released. We believe that so
far less than 1% of Burma's political prisoners, which number
approximately 1,500, have been released.

Most of the non-political prisoners who have been released are past
cronies of the regime who were imprisoned for rubbing the authorities the
wrong way over the past decade.  They include military personnel and
businessmen who were arrested and sentenced in connection with the arrest
of General Tun Kyi and General Kyaw Ba in 1993-4. Those released also
include military personnel arrested in connection with the daughter of
Burma's late dictator, Ne Win, during the last two years.  Others are
members of the United Wa State Army, the regime's closest armed ally
inside the country.  Most of those who were released had either completed
their prison term or were close to finishing.

USCB believes that the reason for the release is to clear prison space for
the recent arrest of hundreds (possibly thousands) of military
intelligence members associated with General Khin Nyunt, the former #3
leader in the regime who was recently arrested by his fellow generals.

Below is a list of those that have released. "MP" next to their name
denotes that they were a member of parliament elected in Burma's 1990
national election.

MIN KO NAING
(1) U Kyaw San (MP) released from Insein prison.
(2) U Ohn Maung (MP)released from Insein prison.
(3) U Aung Zin (lawyer)released from Insein prison.
(4) U Toe Po (MP)released from Insein prison.
(5) Dr.Soe Than of DPNS released from Mandaly prison.
(6) Yar Kyaw of DPNS released from Mandalay prison.
(7) Tin Mar Ni (Female) of DPNS
(8) Ohnmar (Female) of DPNS
(9) Zaw Zaw Linn of DPNS
(10) Thet Naing
(11) U Nyan Hla
(12) Min Zaw Thein
(13) Ko Khun Sai

_____________________________________

November 19, Amnesty International
Myanmar: Prisoners of conscience freed

Amnesty International welcomes the release from prison today of at least
20 political prisoners in Myanmar. The Burmese authorities announced
yesterday that they would release 3,937 prisoners, after finding  that
"improper deeds" were used to imprison them.

"Amnesty International is delighted to hear of the release of prisoners of
conscience. We applaud this decision by the Burmese government,  and its
implicit recognition that these people should never have been imprisoned
in the first place," said Natalie Hill, Deputy Asia Director at Amnesty
International. "We urge the government to use the momentum of this
decision and release all prisoners of conscience."

U Win Tin, 74, a long-term prisoner of conscience and journalist was one
of those released today. He had spent the last 15 years imprisoned solely
for his peaceful political activities, enduring terrible prison
conditions, torture, and chronic health problems.

Ko Khun Sai, known as Myo Htun and also a prisoner of conscience, was
another of those released.  The former student activist was sentenced for
helping to write a student history in February 1998, and has served two
other prison terms for his political activities.

Amnesty International is calling on the State Peace and Development
Council (SPDC)  to unconditionally release all prisoners of conscience --
regardless of their political allegiance -- including journalists, student
leaders, nuns, teachers, lawyers, students, monks and farmers. These men
and women have spent years in prison after unfair trials for acts of
peaceful dissent that would not be considered crimes under international
law, and have suffered from torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading
treatment.

The organization is urging the authorities to protect against future
wrongful imprisonment by revoking or amending laws that have been used in
the past to prosecute people on the basis of their peaceful political
activities. The SPDC should also ensure that all trials match
international standards for fairness. The amended laws must respect 
fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right to freedom of
expression, association and assembly, the right to a fair trial, and the
right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Background
Amnesty International calls for the release, among others, of Paw U Tun,
also known as Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi,  student leaders imprisoned
since 1989,  U Win Htein, NLD advisor imprisoned since 1996; Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi and  U Tin Oo, general secretary and deputy chairman of the
National League for Democracy  who are currently under house arrest.

Others released today include opposition party members and MPs elect from
the National League for Democracy and members of the Democratic Party for
a New Society, who were arrested in connection with demonstrations calling
for the convening of parliament in 1998. Among those released are
individuals who were being held beyond the end of their prison sentence
under legislation that allows detention without charge or trial , or who
had been sentenced under security and other legislation the broad terms of
which have for years facilitated the imprisonment of persons solely on
account of peaceful political activities. Amnesty International urges
authorities to revoke or amend these laws, including the 1975 State
Protection Law; 1962 Press and Publication Law; the 1950 Emergency
Provisions Act, and the Unlawful Associations Act .

Significant numbers of political prisoners were released by the
authorities in Myanmar in amnesties in 1992 and again in 1995. A number of
these, including individuals currently imprisoned, were subsequently
rearrested for breaching the terms of their release by engaging in
peaceful political activities, and were made to serve the remainder of
their original sentence.

Biographies of selected released prisoners are available on request.

Public Document
****************************************
For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in
London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566
Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW.  web:
http://www.amnesty.org

For latest human rights news view http://news.amnesty.org

Biographies of selected released prisoners

U Win Tin, former editor, aged 74, was serving a 20 year prison sentence
and has been imprisoned since July 1989. He has chronic health problems,
including spondylitis.He has received three separate sentences while
imprisoned-- firstly for harbouring a girl who had received an illegal
abortion, secondly, while still imprisoned, for "giving seditious talks,
organizing subversive movements within the NLD and writing and publishing
pamphlets to incite treason against the state."  His third prison sentence
of seven years was given for allegedly writing political analyses:
authorities stated he "secretly published anti-government propaganda to
create riots in jail".

A total of 24 prisoners were given sentences at the beginning of 1996 in
connection with their circulation of news within the prison, their
preparation of a magazine, and their attempts to report on human rights
violations in the prison. While authorities investigated the incident
many, including U Win Tin, were held in cells designed for military dogs,
made to sleep on the concrete floor without bedding during winter months,
and deprived of food and water. They were also reportedly denied legal
representation at their trial, when several of them reported that they had
been tortured.  Two persons sentenced at this time subsequently died in
custody, one of whom was in his 30s.

Khun Sai, aka Myo Htun, 45, was arrested in February 1998 and sentenced to
seven years imprisonment with Aung Htun and many others for allegedly
helping with the preparation of a history of student movement and its
prominent role in political activism in Myanmar. Veteran student activists
from the previous 40 years alleged to have contributed to it were arrested
and sentenced at the same time, at least two of whom have reportedly died
in prison. This is Khun Sai's third period of detention as a result of his
political activities.He was reportedly tortured during interrogation and
has health problems.

U Kyaw San, 72, National League for Democracy (NLD) MP elect, Taze,
Sagaing Division, was most recently arrested in September 1998 in
connection with calls for the convening of parliament. He had been
arrested in 1992, reportedly for distributing pamphlets. After the NLD
called for the convening of parliament in 1998, the majority of MPs were
detained without charge or trial. Authorities reportedly made him serve
the remainder of his previous prison sentence from which he had been
released, reportedly for violating the conditions of his release. He was
being held under an adminstrative detention law that allows detention
without charge or trial.

UToe Po, NLD MP elect, Yebyu, Tanintharyi division, 65 years old, former
army captain. He was arrested in connection with NLD calls to convene
parliament in September 1998 and sentenced to seven yearsí imprisonment. 
He was reportedly held in a cell designed for military dogs for a month in
January 2001, after authorities cracked down on prisoners who went on
hunger strike calling for dialogue between the NLD and the SPDC, reading
materials, improvements to prison conditions and for prisoner access to
more family visits. Members of the group, which also included criminal
prisoners, were reportedly beaten and kicked, and regularly interrogated
with force and held in leg shackles with iron bars. They were also made to
strip by prison officials. U Toe Po reportedly suffered from health
problems, including high blood pressure.