Continuing detention of Burmese Tra

[osolnick@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Federation of Korean Trade Unions FKTU

Headquarters :203 Koryo Bldg
44-16 Dohwa-dong, Mapo-ku,
Seoul, 121-040, KOREA

Tel +82-2-718-4541/3
Fax +82-2-701-7991

Affiliated with---
International Transport Workers Federation
Federation of Korean Trade Unions

27 July 1998.

Senior General Than Shwe
Prime Minister
Burma
fax) +95 1 22 950


Dear Prime Minister,


Continuing detention of Burmese Trade Union Leader

The International Transport Workers' Federation noted with extreme concern
that, as of 13 June 1998, the military junta of Burma has been detaining U
Khin Kyaw of the Seafarers Union of Burma and U Myo Aung Thant of All-Burma
Petrol-Chemical Corp Union for one year, merely for their involvement in
trade union activities.

It also notes that U Myo Aung Thant was sentenced to 20 years in jail in
addition to life imprisonment for high treason while U Khin Kyaw is still
being detained without being sentenced. The ITF has reason to  believe
that  these  two  officials  have  been  tortured  an ill-treated while
imprisoned in Burma.

On behalf of the 100,000 members of FKSU, we strongly protest against the
ongoing oppression in Burma and the continuing detention of trade union
activists.

The ITF deplores that fact that the State Peace and Development
Committee(SPDC) has ignored the repeated calls for the release of these two
trade union leaders made by independent international trade union
organizations and by Amnesty International.  We again call for the
unconditional release of U Myo Aung Thant, U Khin Kyaw and their families
as well as all other trade union or pro-democracy activists currently
detained in Burma.

The ITF also calls upon the SPUC regime to desist from its detention,
harassment and  imprisonment  of  trade pro-democracy movement members and
human rights activists.

In the opinion of the international trade union movement, it will only be
through respect for human rind trade union rights that economic and social
stability in Burma will be established.


Yours sincerely,


Eul Ryong Kwon
President
Federation of Korean Seafarers' Unions

DC, SW - ITF
Burmese Embassy in Korea