arrest of National League for Democracy members

Case MMR 050900 The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Myanmar. Brief description of the situation The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Aung San Suu Kyi, Secretary General, and all other members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), who have not been seen in public since Saturday 2nd September. In particular, OMCT is gravely concerned for 16 members of NLD Youth members and two leaders who have reportedly been imprisoned. According to the information received, on 2 September 2000 when around midnight, nearly 200 riot police raided the NLD roadside convoy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi and U tin Oo, vice chairman, and forced them to return to the capital, ending a nine-day standoff. It is also reported that security personnel beat up the NLD youths, guarding the leaders, causing head wounds and injuries to nine. They were not hospitalised and were sent to Insein prison. It is reported that the following NLD youths are detained in Insein jail: 1- Htun Zaw Zaw ( Rangoon division) 2- Myo Nyunt (Rangoon division) 3- Htun Myint (same) 4- Thein Lwin (same) 5- Aung Htoo (same) 6- Khin Oo (same) 7- Moe Thaw (a) Pauk Pauk (same) 8- Myint Kyaw (same) 9- Shwe Gyo (same) 10- Than Htut (same) 11- Nyan Lin Aung (same) 12- Aye Myein Lin (same) 13- Than Htun (same) 14- Thein Swe (Irrawaddy Division) 15- Zaw Min Kyaw (same) 16- Min Aung Nyo (Mon State) U Soe Myint (a member of CEC and Chairman of Rangoon Division NLD), and Dr. Myo Aung (member of Rangoon Division NLD organising committee) are also reportedly detained in Insein prison. NLD headquarters were also raided over this same weekend. It was announced by the government that the 10 members of the Central Executive Committee, including Aung San Suu Kyi and U Tin Oo, have been confined to their homes, although it is not clear whether they are under house arrest or not, and access to them has been denied. The government says it is investigating links between the NLD and an armed rebel group, God's Army, based on the Burmese border. Action requested Please write to the authorities in Myanmar urging them to: i. take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of all members of the National League for Democracy, in particular the above-mentioned persons; ii. order the immediate release of all those detained and put an end to the harassment of all members of the National League for Democracy; iii. order a thorough and impartial investigation into this situation and reported acts of violence in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law; iv. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with international human rights standards. Addresses Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, Secretary 1, State Peace and Development Council, c/o Ministry of Defence, Signal Pagoda Road, Yangon, Union of Myanmar Faxes: + 95 1 229 50 Colonel Hla Min, Office of Strategic Studies, Department of International Affairs, c/o Ministry of Defense, Signal Pagoda Road, Dagon Post Office, Yangon, Union of Myanmar Faxes: + 95 1 229 50 Geneva, 5th September 2000 Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.