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hrwatch press release on Ye Htut
- Subject: hrwatch press release on Ye Htut
- From: hrwatchuk@xxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 05 Oct 1995 20:40:00
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 4,
1995
For Further Information
Zunetta Liddell, London UK 44 -171-713-1995
Mike Jendrzejczyk, Washington DC 1- 202-371-6592
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH/ASIA PROTESTS THE ARREST OF
BURMESE STUDENT
Human Rights Watch/Asia today protested the
arrest of Ye Htut, a Burmese student, by military
intelligence officials in Rangoon. According to a
report in the government-run newspaper The New Light
of Myanmar on October 4, 1995, Ye Htut was arrested
on September 27, 1995 for sending 'incriminating
documents' which Human Rights Watch/Asia believes
were private letters addressed to Aung Zaw (aka Zaw
Gyi), a member of the Burma Information Group, an
activist organization based in Bangkok.
"We believe that Ye Htut has been arrested
solely for having sent information to friends and
contacts abroad. Under international law, this
cannot be characterized as criminal behavior," said
Zunetta Liddell, researcher for Human Rights
Watch/Asia, "This arrest, just weeks after the
release of Aung San Suu Kyi, is clearly intended to
intimidate Burma s citizens. It should be a signal
to the international community about the need to
maintain the pressure for fundamental human rights
improvements, she added.
Human Rights Watch/Asia is concerned that Ye
Htut may be subjected to torture and ill-treatment
since his arrest a week ago, that he will not be
granted a fair trial, and that he could be sentenced
to over ten years imprisonment under Burma's
draconian laws. Human Rights Watch/Asia urged the
U.N. Special Rapporteur, Prof. Yozo Yokota, who is
visiting Burma later this month on behalf of the
United Nations Commission on Human Rights, to make
urgent inquiries about Ye Htut.
The New Light of Myanmar article alleged that
information sent by Ye Htut had been used by Aung
Zaw in articles published in opposition journals,
such as The Irrawaddy, and by the independent radio
station, Radio Burma. It added that Ye Htut had
admitted receiving payment from Aung Zaw for his
work. However, international law protects
the right to freedom of expression,
including the "freedom to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of
frontiers" (Article 19 of the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights).
Since Aung San Suu Kyi s release from house
arrest on July 10, 1995, there has been a noticeable
softening of the position of some governments
towards the SLORC. Japan, for example, is sending a
mission to Burma this month to discuss Japan s
bilateral aid programs and prepare for the
resumption of some major Official Development
Assistance (ODA) projects, suspended since 1988. In
a report released on July 24, 1995 Human Rights
Watch/Asia stressed the urgent need for the repeal
of laws which prohibit freedom of expression,
association and the rights of citizens to
participate in the country's political process if
there is to be any meaningful improvement in the
human rights situation in Burma. Ye Htut is likely
to be charged and convicted under those laws.
Human Rights Watch/Asia called on the
international community to press the Burmese
government for the immediate release of Ye Htut and
others jailed on similar grounds. Others arrested
for similar offenses since 1988 include lawyer U
Nay Min, who was arrested in September 1988 and
sentenced to fourteen years imprisonment for having
allegedly sent information to the British
Broadcasting Corporation during the time of the pro-
democracy demonstrations; Dr. Thida, a medical
doctor and close aid of Aung San Suu Kyi who was
arrested in August 1993 and sentenced to twenty
years imprisonment for allegedly distributing anti-
government literature in Rangoon; and U Khin Zaw Win
(aka Kelvin), Daw San San Nwe, U Khin Maung Swe, U
Sein Hla Oo and Myat Moe Moe Htun who were all
arrested in August 1994 and given sentences of
between seven and fifteen years for having given
'false information' to embassies and journalists.
Khin Zaw Win was also alleged to have contacted the
U.N. Special Rapporteur on his visit to Burma in
1992.
Human Rights Watch/Asia
Human Rights Watch is a nongovernmental organization
established in 1978 to monitor and promote the observance of
internationally recognized human rights in Africa, the
Americas, Asia, the Middle East and among the signatories of
the Helsinki accords. It is supported by contributions from
private individuals and foundations worldwide. It accepts no
government funds, directly or indirectly. Kenneth Roth is the
executive director; Cynthia Brown is the program director;
Holly J. Burkhalter is the advocacy director; Ann S. Johnson is
the development director; Gara LaMarche is the associate
director: Juan E. Mndez is general counsel; Susan Osnos is the
communications director; and Derrick Wong is the finance and
administration director. Robert L. Bernstein is the chair of
the board and Adrian W. DeWind is vice chair. Its Asia
division was established in 1985 to monitor and promote the
observance of internationally recognized human rights in Asia.
Sidney Jones is the executive director; Mike Jendrzejczyk is
the Washington director; Robin Munro is the Hong Kong director;
Jeannine Guthrie is NGO Liaison; Dinah PoKempner is Counsel;
Zunetta Liddell and Patricia Gossman are research associates;
Mark Girouard and Shu-Ju Ada Cheng are Henry R. Luce Fellows;
Diana Tai-Feng Cheng is an associate; Mickey Spiegel is a
research consultant. Andrew J. Nathan is chair of the advisory
committee and Orville Schell is vice chair