Arrest of the leader of the Myanmar Farmers Union Ms.Su Su Nway

URGENT APPEAL - THE OBSERVATORY

The Observatory for theProtection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the InternationalFederation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture(OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Burma/Myanmar.

Brief description of thesituation:

The Observatory has beeninformed by reliable sources about the arbitrary arrest of leader of theMyanmar Farmers Union Ms.SuSu Nway.

According to theinformation received, on July 23, 2015, Ms. Su Su Nway was arrested by policein Intagaw, Pegu Township, Pegu Division, after meeting with farmers involvedin a land confiscation dispute on her way back to Rangoon. Ms. Su Su Nway hadbeen meeting with farmers who were seeking the return of land that the militaryhad confiscated from them in Nyaunglebin Township in 2003.

The same day, a court inPegu Division charged Ms. Su Su Nway under Article 447 of the Criminal Code(trespassing) and sent her to Pegu Prison. Ms. Su Su Nway denied the chargesand turned down bail, which had been granted by the court.

In early June, police inIntagaw informed Ms. Su Su Nway that a local Army commander, Captain Hein Zaw,had filed charges against her for trespassing. She had refused to answer thecharge.Her trial is set to begin on July 29, 2015.

Ms. Su Su Nway haspreviously been detained on various occasions between 2005 and 2007. She waseventually released along with hundreds of other political prisoners during aOctober 12, 2011 presidential amnesty.

The Observatory condemnsthe arrest and judicial harassment of Ms. Su Su Nway, which seem merely aimedat sanctioning her peaceful human rights activities, and calls upon the Burmeseauthorities to release her immediately and unconditionally.

Actions requested:

Please write to theBurmese authorities, urging them to:

i. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of allhuman rights defenders in Burma, including Ms. Su Su Nway;

ii. Immediately and unconditionally release Ms. Su Su Nway since her detention isarbitrary and only aimed at sanctioning her human rights activities;

iii. Put an end to acts of any acts of harassment, including at the judicial level,against Ms. Su Su Nwayand all human rights defenders in Burma;

iv. Comply with all the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on HumanRights Defenders, in particular with its:

- Article 1, which stipulates that “everyone has the right, individually and in associationwith others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization ofhuman rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and internationallevels”;

- Article 12.1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and inassociation with others, to participate in peaceful activities againstviolations of human rights and fundamental freedoms”;

- Article 12.2, which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measuresto ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individuallyand in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adversediscrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of hisor her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the presentDeclaration”;

v. More generally, ensure in all circumstances the respect for human rights andfundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration of HumanRights, and ratify international and regional human rights instruments.

Addresses:

· U Thein Sein, President of Myanmar, President Office, Office No.18, Naypyitaw,MYANMAR; Fax: + 95 1 652 624

· Lt Gen Ko Ko, Minister for Home Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Office No. 10,Naypyitaw, MYANMAR; Fax: +95 67 412 439

· U Win Mra, Chairman of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, 27 PyayRoad, Hline Township, Yangon, Republic of the Union of Myanmar; Fax:+95-1-659668

· Dr. Tun Shin, Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General, Office No. 25,Naypyitaw, MYANMAR; Fax: +95 67 404 146/ 106

· U Tun Tun Oo, Chief Justice, Office of the Supreme Court, Office No. 24,Naypyitaw, MYANMAR; Fax: + 95 67 404 059

· U Kyaw Kyaw Htun, Director General, Myanmar Police Force, Ministry of HomeAffairs, Office No. 10, Naypyitaw, MYANMAR; Fax: +951 549 663 / 549 208

· H.E. Mr. Maung Wai, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, PermanentRepresentative to the United Nations in Geneva, Avenue Blanc 47, 1202 Geneva,Switzerland. Fax: +41 22 732 89 19, +41 22 732 73 77, Email: mission@myanmargeneva.org

· Embassy of Myanmar in Brussels, Boulevard Général Wahis 9, 1030 Brussels,Belgium, Fax: +32 (0)32 2 705 50 48, Email: mebrussels@skynet.be

Please also write to thediplomatic representations of Burma in your respective countries.

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Paris-Geneva, July 24,2015

Kindly inform us of anyaction undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.

The Observatory, a FIDHand OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders andaims to offer them concrete support in their time of need.

To contact theObservatory, call the emergency line:

· E-mail: Appeals@fidh-omct.org

· Tel and fax FIDH + 33 1 43 55 25 18 / +33 1 43 55 18 80

· Tel and fax OMCT + 41 22 809 49 39 / + 41 22 809 49 29