AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

View Alerts By > Case | Date | Country | Victim

AAAS Human Rights Action Network

FACTS OF THE CASE:

AAAS is concerned about the arrest of U Aung Kyi, an engineer from Mandalay. He is considered a prisoner of conscience, arrested solely for the expression of his opinions and non-violent activities. The date of his arrest is not known. However, he and two others had a court hearing on 10 June. He was not charged at that time, and another hearing was scheduled for 19 June. It is believed that U Aung Kyi was arrested for possessing "political" letters and material from "illegal organizations." His whereabouts are currently unknown, and there is concern for his well-being, as there have been numerous accounts of ill-treatment in detention in Myanmar. According to Amnesty International, there are at least 1000 people in prison in Myanmar (Burma) for involvement in opposition political parties.

The treatment of U Aung Kyi constitutes a serious violation of international human rights standards, including basic protections provided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted without objection by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948. Among the relevant provisions are the following:

• The rights to life, liberty, and security of person, and to be free of arbitrary arrest or detention (Articles 3 and 9);
• the right to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal (Article 10);
• the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers (Article 19); and
• the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association (Article 20).

(Source of information on this case is Amnesty International.)

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send telexes, telegrams, faxes, or airmail letters:

• expressing concern about the arrest and detention of U Aung Kyi;
• urging that he be released unless charged with a recognizable crime;
• seeking assurance that he will receive humane treatment in custody and is allowed access to family, legal representation, and medical attention should it become necessary.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Senior General Than Shwe
Chairman, State Law and Order Restoration Council
c/o Director of Defense Services Intelligence (DDSI)
Ministry of Defense, Signal Pagoda Road
Dagon Post Office
Yangon, Union of Myanmar
Telexes: 713 21316
Salutation: Dear General

Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt
Secretary 1, State Law and Order Restoration Counc
c/o Director of Defence Services Intelligence (DDSI)
Ministry of Defence, Signal Pagoda Road
Dagon Post Office
Yangon, Union of Myanmar
Salutation: Dear General

Main | CSFR Letters | Science and Human Rights Program