AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

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FACTS OF THE CASE:

On 4 May 2003, the Burmese government released 18 political prisoners, including Dr. Salai Tun Than. As a condition of their release, the individuals are not allowed to engage in any future political activities. Any violation of this provision will result in re-arrest to serve out the remainder of the original sentences.

Dr. Salai was arrested in November 2001 for staging a one-man protest in front of the Rangoon government building, during which he called for a multiparty general election and the unconditional transfer of state power to the winning party. He was sentenced in March 2002 to a seven-year prison term under Article 5(j) of the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act. Human rights groups have criticized the act as a tool of the government to suppress legitimate dissent.

Dr. Salai holds a Ph.D. in crop nutrition from the University of Wisconsin and a MA in agronomy from the University of Georgia. He has led a distinguished career as an entomologist, professor of agronomy, and the rector of Yezin University.

According to a government press release, the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) used health and humanitarian grounds to select these 18 detainees to be released. The government stated that the releases are part of an effort to restore multiparty democracy and national reconciliation. The government has made a series of conciliatory gestures to the pro-democracy movement, including the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy from de facto house arrest last May. The SPDC continues to hold hundreds of political prisoners, including members of ethnic minority groups and elected members of parliament, in detention.

Dr. Salai told reporters that he plans to continue his work on rural development projects. He was aware of the letterwriting campaigns on his behalf, including those organized by his alma maters of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Georgia. He thanked all individuals who wrote to the government protesting his arrest and sentencing.

(Sources of information for this case include: Irrawaddy, a magazine covering human rights and democracy issues in Burma and Asia http://www.irrawaddy.org/ and the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch.)

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

No action is necessary at this time. Many thanks to those who sent letters of appeal.

Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Victoria Baxter, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6797; email vbaxter@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.

The keys to effective appeals are to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful.

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.

To verify the contents of this alert and/or the electronic signature, please download the signed file for this alert along with the Program's PGP Public Key.

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