FWD: MYANMAR: 1996 WORST YEAR FOR H

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Subject: FWD: MYANMAR: 1996 WORST YEAR FOR HUMAN RIGHTS THIS DECADE

>From:	SMTP%"owner-amnesty-L@xxxxxxxxxxx"    11-MAR-1997 02:11
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Subj:	MYANMAR: 1996 WORST YEAR FOR HUMAN RIGHTS THIS DECADE




News Service 15/97
AI INDEX: ASA 16/03/97
12/02/97

MYANMAR: 1996 WORST YEAR FOR HUMAN RIGHTS THIS DECADE

The past year has seen an escalation in political repression in Myanmar
unequalled since the violent suppression by the army of the 1988-89 popular
uprising, Amnesty International said today, as it called for the
international community to redouble pressure on the Burmese authorities in
1997.

     During 1996 more than 2,000 people were arrested for calling for human
rights reforms, severe restrictions were placed on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's
freedom of movement and speech, and members of the National League for
Democracy (NLD) were attacked by organized mobs, with the apparent
encouragement of the government.

     "Last year was the worst for human rights in Myanmar since 1990"
Amnesty International said. "Already 1997 has been marked by the long jail
sentences handed down to at least 34 people detained after last year's
pro-democracy demonstrations."

     "While the world talks about 'constructive engagement', things are
going backwards in Myanmar. Those governments with influence, particularly
the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathering in Singapore
this week, need to think again about how to pressure the Burmese
authorities to improve their human rights record."

     The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) throughout 1996
suppressed peaceful political meetings, gatherings and demonstrations,
sometimes violently. SLORC has shown an almost complete intolerance of any
peaceful political activity whatsoever. At the beginning of the year,
Burmese people could gather peacefully every weekend to listen to speeches
by NLD leaders. By the end of the year even this was forbidden.

     In May and September, security forces arrested some 300 and 600 NLD
members respectively, who were gathering for party congresses. Some of
those arrested remain in detention. Hundreds of students and NLD members
were arrested following the forceful breaking up of peaceful student
demonstrations in December.  Amnesty International is concerned that some
100 remain in prison. During the year, Aung San Suu Kyi was repeatedly
refused permission to leave her compound, and was effectively confined to
her house for long periods.

     Amnesty International is particularly concerned at a worrying new
development which emerged during the year, with violent attacks against
senior members of the NLD. On 9 November, a group of about 200 young men
attacked Aung San Suu Kyi's motorcade with iron bars and sticks. The men
were thought to be members of the United Solidarity Development
Organization (USDA), a SLORC sponsored group, and were allegedly paid 500
kyats each to participate in the attack which is believed to have been
coordinated by the government.

     At the same time, the state controlled media is making increasingly
strident personal attacks against Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD. Independent
foreign reporters have been denied access to interview NLD members, and in
one case, a journalist covering the demonstrations was severely beaten by
the security forces.

     In April 1996, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (CHR)
extended the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar's mandate for another year.
Amnesty International is calling for a further extension at this year's
CHR, and for United Nations member states, in particular members of ASEAN,
to pressure the Burmese authorities to stop denying access to the Special
Rapporteur.


ENDS../



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Subject: MYANMAR: 1996 WORST YEAR FOR HUMAN RIGHTS THIS DECADE
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