Arbitrary arrest and detention/ Fear for safety

The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Burma/Myanmar.

Brief description of the situation

The International Secretary of OMCT has been informed by a reliable source and Antenna International, member organisation of the OMCT SOS-Torture network, of the arbitrary arrest and detention of Mr. Tint San, former student leader and former political prisoner, and of Mr. U San Shwe Tun, National League for Democracy (NLD) member from Sittwe Township, Arakan State.

According to the information received, Mr. Tint San was arrested on 29 November 2007 by the police special branch from his home at Tamwe Township, Rangoon. The reasons of his arrest remain unknown yet. However, he reportedly became very active and organised some activities with the aimed to push for a dialogue between the authorities and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for national reconciliation during and after the “Saffron revolution”. He is reportedly currently detained at the Aung Thapye Interrogation Centre, in Rangoon. Mr. Tint San was the former Chairman of Rangoon University Student Union (RUSU) during the 1988 democracy uprising and already spent over seven years in prison.

According to the same information, Mr. U San Shwe Tun was arrested at home, in Sittwe Township, on 26 November 2007 and sent to Sittwe Prison. Mr. U San Shwe Tun was reportedly previously arrested in March 2003, after Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s organisational tour in Arakan State, and released on 5 November 2007 before completion of his sentence under section 401 of the penal code which allows temporary suspension of remaining sentence. The reasons of his re-arrest remain unknown yet.

The International Secretariat of OMCT expresses its deep concern about the arrest and detention of Mr. Tint San and Mr. U San Shwe Tun and is very much concerned for their safety as they are at high risk of torture and ill-treatment.

Action requested

Please write to the authorities in Burma/Myanmar urging them to:

1. Guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Tint San and Mr. U San Shwe Tun;
2. Guarantee unconditional access to their lawyers, families and any medical treatment they may require;
3. Order they immediate release in the absence of valid legal charges that are consistent with international law and standards, or if such charges exist, bring them before an impartial and competent tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all times;
4. Ensure the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.

Addresses

• Mr. Aye Maung, Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General, 101 Pansodan Street, Kyauktada Township, Yangon, Myanmar, Fax: + 95 1 371 028/ 282 449 / 282 990
• Lt Sein Thein, Prime Minister, c/o Ministry of Defence, Signal Pagoda Road, Yangon, Myanmar, Tel: + 95 1 372 681; Fax: + 95 1 652 624
• Minister for Home Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, No. 10 Naypyidaw, Myanmar; Tel: +95 67 412 040/ 069/ 072; Fax: +95 67 412 016/ 439; E-mail: ddg.gad@gad.gov.mm
• Permanent Mission of Myanmar to the United Nations in Geneva, 47 avenue Blanc, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland, Tel: + 41 22 906 98 70; Fax: + 41 22 732 89 19; Email: mission.myanmar@ties.itu.int
• Embassy of Myanmar in Brussels, 9 boulevard Général Wahis, 1030 Schaerbeek, Brussels, Belgium, Fax: + 32 2 705.50.48.

Please also write to the diplomatic representations of Burma/Myanmar in your respective country.

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Geneva, 3 December 2007

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