AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

FACTS OF THE CASE:

AAAS has been informed about the continued ill- treatment of dentist Dr. Khin Zaw Win and five others. Dr. Khin and the others are reportedly still being held in cells meant to hold military dogs. As indicated in a 2 February 1996 AAASHRAN alert, they have been held under such conditions since November 1995.

The individuals have reportedly been punished due to their alleged providing information about poor prison conditions to Professor Yozo Yokota, the United Nations Special Rapporteur for human rights on Myanmar.

Dr. Khin Zaw Win, was known to have close links with political opposition groups in Myanmar. He was arrested in July 1994 for attempting to pass documents critical of the military government to foreigners including the UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar. He is currently serving a fifteen year sentence at Insein Prison in Rangoon.

The prosecution of individuals on the basis of the expression of their views and their political affiliations and the ill-treatment of prisoners constitute a serious violation of fundamental human rights including those enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted by the United Nations without opposition in 1948), which guarantees:

• no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (Article 5);
• freedom of thought, conscience and religion (Article 18);
• freedom of expression (Article 19); and
• freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association (Article 20).

(Source of information on this case is Amnesty International)

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes, telegrams or airmail letters:

• calling on the authorities to remove all prisoners from military dog cells, to ensure that they are no longer subjected to ill-treatment, and to allow access to their families;
• urging the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Khin Zaw Win based on the fact that he was arrested solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression and assembly; and
• pointing out that reprisals against those who provide information to the United Nations human rights bodies is contrary to the UN Commission on Human Rights resolution 1995/75.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Senior General Than Shwe
ChairmanChairman, State Law and Order Restoration
c/o Directorate of Defense Services Intelligence (DDSI)
Ministry of Defence, Signal Pagado Road
Dagon Post Office
Yangon, Union of Myanmar
Salutation: Dear General

Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt
Secretary 1, State Law and Order Restoration Counc
c/o Directorate of Defense Services Intelligence (DDSI)
Ministry of Defense, Signal Pagoda Road
Yangon, Union of Myanmar
Fax: 011-95-1-229-50
Salutation: Dear General

COPIES SENT TO:

Ambassador U Thaung
Embassy of the Union of Myanmar
2300 S Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Salutation: Your Excellency

Marilyn Meyers
Charge d'Affaires
581 Merchant St.
AMEMB Box B
APO AP 96546
Fax: 95-1-80409
Salutation: Dear Ms. Meyers

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