|
Long-term detention
The following writers or journalists are all serving prison sentences of between
seven and twenty-one years for the peaceful expression of their opinions:
Aung Myint, Ko Aung Tun, U Myo Htun,
Khin Zaw Win, Kyaw Sein Oo,
U Ohn Kyaing, U Sein Hla Oo,
and Win Tin. Their case histories appear below.
Case Histories
Name: AUNG Myint (aka Phya Pon Ni Loan Oo)
D.o.b.: Around 1945
Profession: Poet, journalist, and head of the information department of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Rangoon.
Date of arrest: 14 September 2000
Sentence: 21 years' imprisonment
Expires: 13 September 2021.
Details of arrest: Arrested by members of Unit 14 of the Military Intelligence Service.
Details of trial: Sentenced on 20 December 2000 by a military court for violation of the State Protection and Emergency Provision Acts. He is accused of distributing information regarding repression of the NLD to international press agencies and to Western diplomats based in Rangoon. The charges are believed to relate to a press release written by Aung Myint and his assistant Kyaw Sein Oo (see below) and distributed to international press agencies and foreign embassies in Rangoon in September 2000 a few hours after NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested by security forces as she was trying to leave Rangoon.
Professional details: Aung Myint is reportedly a well-known and respected poet in Burma. He wrote poetry on the daily life of the people, and helped the NLD in his capacity as a poet. He started his career writing satirical articles and poems for the official newspaper Botahtaung in the 1980's. He wrote for the now-banned magazine Pay-ful-lwa (The Message) from 1983-1988, and in 1988 he became assistant editor for Cherry magazine until his arrest in 1997. In 1999 he became head of the NLD's information department in Rangoon. He has reportedly recently written an article entitled 'Where are the freedom of movement and freedom of expression in the Golden Land?' which was circulated underground amongst NLD members. Recipient of 2002 PEN America/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write award.
Previous political imprisonment/problems: Arrested in 1997 and sentenced to two years in prison for his activities with the NLD. Reportedly sacked from Cherry magazine by the authorities and prohibited from working for the magazine on his release. His name is reportedly banned from all Burmese publications.
Other information: His wife Ma Tha-bye is said to be a well-known writer of romantic fiction and editor of Cherry magazine. His daughter is said to be a successful writer and actress.
Honorary member of: English, Sydney, American, Canadian and Perth PEN Centres.
Names: Ko AUNG Tun and U MYO Htun
D.o.b.: 1967 (Aung Tun)
Date of arrest: February 1998
Sentence: 13 years and 7 years in prison respectively.
Expires: February 2011 and February 2005 respectively
Details of arrest: At a 1 March 1998 press conference the SPDC claimed Ko Aung Tun had been arrested for 'collaborating with terrorist groups'. Opposition sources, however, state the real reason for his arrest as being a book he had written on the history of the student movement in Myanmar. U Myo Htun assisted Ko Aung Tun in writing the book, which the authorities claim was 'distributed illegally'.
Details of trial: According to an official statement, Ko Aung Tun was sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment under the 1962 Printers and Publishers Registration Act, 7 years under the Unlawful Association Act, and 7 years under the Emergency Provisions Act. Sentence thought to be combined as 13 years.
Place of detention: Ko Aung Tun held in Insein Prison. U Myo Htun was reported in May 2002 to be held in Shwebo prison, Sagaing Division, North of Mandalay.
Treatment in prison: Both men are reportedly being held incommunicado in solitary confinement and have reportedly been subject to torture, including threats and severe beatings.
Health concerns: Both men are said to be in very poor health as a result of their ill-treatment in prison. Ko Aung Tun is reportedly vomiting blood as a result of his beatings, and is also said to be suffering from severe asthma and tuberculosis. There is serious concern for the safety of both men.
Previous political imprisonment/problems: Ko Aung Tun was active in the student-led 1988 pro-democracy movement, and was reportedly previously imprisoned from 1990-94.
Other information: Aung Tun is a recipient of the 1999 Hellman/Hammett grants.
Honorary members of: Norwegian, Canberra and Canadian PEN Centres.
Name: KHIN Zaw Win (aka Kelvin)
Profession: Dentist, interpreter, former speech and report-writer for UNICEF and student
Date of Arrest: 4 July 1994
Sentence: 15 years
Expires: 3 July 2009
Details of arrest: Arrested at Yangon airport as he prepared to leave for Singapore. Accused of carrying documents relating to the Burmese opposition movement. Also contact with other dissidents, Daw San San Nwe, U Khin Maung Swe and U Sein Hla Oo (see below). The group is said to have made contact with foreign diplomats and journalists and sent "news comments against or critical of the government" to them (see San San Nwe).
Details of trial: 6 October 1994, sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by a civil court at Insein Prison for offences under the Emergency Provisions Act (spreading false news), the Unlawful Associations Act (membership or contact with illegal organisations) and the Official Secrets Act (possession of secret official information). Also accused of having made arrangements to send "fabricated news" to UN Special Rapporteur Yozo Yokota.
Professional details: Usually resident in Singapore at time of arrest where he was due to start a Masters degree in Public Policy. Was visiting Burma, his country of origin, as part of his research.
Place of detention: Myitkyina Prison, Kachin State
Treatment in Prison: Reportedly among a group of political prisoners ill-treated following the discovery of a protest letter addressed to the UN in November 1995. Also said to have been refused family visits since May 2002.
Honorary member of: English PEN.
Name: KYAW Sein Oo
Profession: Assistant to the head of the information department of the National League for Democracy (NLD).
Date of arrest: 14 September 2000
Sentence: Seven years' imprisonment.
Expires: 13 September 2007
Details of arrest: Accused with Aung Myint (see above) of distributing information regarding the repression of the NLD to international press agencies and to Western diplomats based in Rangoon. The charges are believed to relate to a press release written by Aung Myint and his assistant Kyaw Sein Oo and distributed to international press agencies and foreign embassies in Rangoon in September 2000 a few hours after NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested by security forces as she was trying to leave Rangoon.
Details of trial: Kyaw Sein Oo was sentenced under the Printers and Publishers Registration Act.
Name: U OHN Kyaing (AUNG Wint)
Profession: MP, translator and former editor
Date of Arrest: 6 September 1990
Sentence: 7 years hard labour and an additional 7 years' imprisonment
Expires: 5 September 2004
Details of Arrest: Had accused the army of brutally breaking up monks' and students' demonstrations in Mandalay in August 1990.
Details of Trial: Sentenced to seven years' hard labour on 17 October 1990.
Professional Details: Ex-editor of Bohtataung Daily (retired in 1988 to become member of NLD Central Committee), also a translator of English-language newspapers into Burmese, and NLD MP for Mandalay SE
Place of Detention: Taungoo Prison.
Treatment in Prison: In mid-1991 he was sentenced to an additional 7 years imprisonment under the 1950 Emergency Provisions Article, for involvement in drafting a leaflet for the NLD entitled "The three paths to power".
Other information: His family were reported in May 2002 to be in severe financial need and poor health.
Name: U SEIN Hla Oo
D.o.b.: 1938
Profession: Journalist with the daily Botahtaung and well-known short story writer. MP-elect for National League for Democracy.
Date of Arrest: 5 August 1994
Sentence: Sentenced to 7 years in prison. Sentence reported to have been extended to 14 years whilst in prison.
Expires: 4 August 2008.
Details of Trial: Reported on 23 August 1994 to have been formally charged with criticising the Burmese govt, contacting banned opposition groups and 'fabricating' anti-govt reports. Also accused of exchanging information with a member of armed opposition group. Sentenced on 6 October 1994 to seven years in prison for spreading information injurious to the state. In 1999 his sentence was reported to have been extended to 14 years for reasons unclear to WiPC.
Place of detention: Myitkyina Prison
Treatment in Prison: Reportedly suffering from heart disease and is believed to be receiving treatment at the prison hospital. Also said to have been operated on in June 2001 for a slipped disc. He has reportedly been denied visits from his wife since February 2002.
Previous Political Imprisonment/Problems: Previously imprisoned from 1990 to 1992.
Honorary member of: English PEN Centre.
Name: WIN Tin
D.o.b.: 12 March 1930
Profession: Former editor of the daily Hanthawati, secretary of the executive council of the National League for Democracy, and vice-president of the Burmese Writers' Association.
Date of Arrest: 4 July 1989
Sentences: Total of 20 years' in prison with hard labour
Expires: 3 July 2009
Details of Arrest: Accused of 'harbouring an offender for whom a warrant had been issued', allegedly for sheltering a girl who had had an illegal abortion, but the true reason is thought to be his opposition activities. Also accused of incitement to violence, contact with insurgent organisations, obtaining financial assistance from a foreign embassy and obtaining weapons.
Details of Trial: Sentenced in October 1989 to 3 years with hard labour. In June 1992 sentenced to an additional 11 years under the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act. Unclear what this is for, but it is thought to be linked to his opposition activities. Sentence said to have been reduced to 10 years in January 1993 amnesty. On 28 March 1996 he was among 21 prisoners to be tried inside Insein Prison and given additional sentences under Section 5J of the Emergency Provisions Act for circulating the petition, distributing a clandestine magazine and possessing radio sets. He was given an additional 7-year sentence (NB: the UN stated 5 years, but the transcript of the trial states 7 years). His cumulative sentences will thus not expire until July 2009.
Professional Details: Was active in pro-democracy demonstrations of 1988 and said to be key adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi and to have been one of those who encouraged her to enter politics. Authorities alleged he was linked to Communist Party of Burma. During 1988's events was vice?chairman of the 'Sarpay Thamagga' ('Writers' Association'). Recipient of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) 2001 Golden Pen of Freedom award, and the 2001 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.
Place of detention: Insein prison.
Health Concerns: Suffers from spondylitis, an inflammation of the vertebrae, diabetes and high blood pressure. Has also lost several teeth and requires dental treatment. Is dependent on his family for medicine and meat, which he needs for his medical condition. In March 2002 he was reportedly being treated in Yangon General Hospital, where he had been operated on for a hernia. His condition is reportedly stable, although it is feared that his return to prison in May 2002 could endanger his life. Returned to Rangoon General Hospital on 27 July 2002 and again on 23 November 2002 for treatment for a heart ailment.
Treatment in Prison: Reported that in November 1995 Win Tin was among a number of prisoners ill-treated after they smuggled letters out to the UN protesting at prison conditions.
Honorary Member of: Hong Kong (English) and Japan PEN centres.
Please write a polite letter to the authorities in Myanmar expressing concern about the number of writers currently
detained there and calling for their immediate and unconditional release,
in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of
Human Rights. You may copy the suggested text for your appeal or create your own. Postage is 80¢.
Date
His Excellency Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman.
State Peace and Development Council
Ministry of Defense
Signal Pagoda Road
Dagon Post Office
Yangon
Union of Myanmar
Your Excellency,
As one of the 2,700 writers who are members of PEN American Center, I am writing to
express my serious and urgent concern about the number of writers in Myanmar who are detained for the peaceful practice of
their right to freedom of expression. I am particularly concerned for the well being of
[insert names of writers and any relevant case information here, for example, "Aung Myint, who was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment...]
According to information PEN has received, since the 1988 crackdown on the National League for Democracy (NLD) in which thousands were killed and thousands more arrested, the numbers of
detained writers known to PEN has remained largely unchanged. I would like to remind the government of Myanmar of its commitment to freedom
of expression as guaranteed by Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
I therefore respectfully request that you intervene on behalf of [writer/s mentioned above] and all other writers detained solely for the exercise of their right to freedom of expression,
and facilitate their immediate and unconditional release.
Sincerely,
[Your name and signature]
Cc:
H. E. U Tin Winn
Embassy of the Union of Myanmar to the United States
2300 S Street NW
Washington, DC 20008
Fax: (202) 332-9046
Back to Myanmar (Burma) Campaign Front Page
|