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Reebok Acknowledges Release of Dr.



Subject: Reebok Acknowledges Release of Dr. Ma Thida, Burmese Human Rights

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   Business Wire News Story  

  Reebok Acknowledges Release of Dr. Ma Thida, Burmese Human Rights Activist 
(Last updated 4:55 PM ET February 19)

Current quotes (delayed 20 mins.) RBK  15 11/16  -1/4  (-1.57%)  
STOUGHTON, Mass. (BUSINESS WIRE) - Reebok joined thousands of individuals
and organizations concerned with human rights in welcoming the announcement
that pro-democracy activist, writer, and physician, Dr. Ma Thida was
released from prison by the government of Burma. The announcement stated Dr.
Thida was released on "humanitarian grounds," following earlier reports of
her ill health; nothing further about her well-being and current situation
has been confirmed.
Last March 11, 1998 at the Reebok Human Rights Award ceremonies at Columbia
University, Dr. Thida and three other prominent human rights activists, all
past Reebok Human Rights Award recipients, were spotlighted for their
continuing imprisonment. Over the past year, Reebok has called for all those
concerned with human rights to write to the governments and call for their
immediate release. With the February 11, 1999 announcement of the release of
Dr. Thida, three of the four imprisoned activists have been released.


On March 23, 1998 Fernando de Araujo of East Timor was released 
from an Indonesian prison in which he had served time since 1991

for his work documenting Indonesian abuses of the East Timorese

and informing international human rights organizations. Today

Fernando de Araujo travels internationally, continuing to raise

awareness of human rights issues. -- On April 19, 1998, Wang Dan, one of the
leaders of the Chinese

Student Democracy Movement and Tiananmen Square demonstrations,

was exiled from prison in China to the United States. He is

currently studying at Harvard University, and speaks frequently on

democratic reform in China. -- On February 11, 1999, Dr. Ma Thida was
released from prison in

Burma.

Ms. Susannah Sirkin, Deputy Director of Physicians for Human Rights, said:
"Dr. Thida is a healer of the body, the spirit, and the soul of her country.
While we are gratified at her release, we continue to be concerned for her
safety and health. We also remain keenly aware of the abusive crackdown
against human rights principles in Burma. The example of her courage and
passion for humanity is a constant beacon to all of us concerned with rights

and with life."

The fourth prisoner of conscience called for release last March is Ven
Phuntsok Nyidron, a Tibetan Buddhist nun, imprisoned in 1989 for leading a
peaceful protest and then singing freedom songs while in prison. For those
two acts she is serving a 17 year sentence, the longest cumulative sentence
of any female political prisoner in Tibet.

Pleas for the release of Ven Phuntsok Nyidron can be addressed to:

Chairman Legchog Zhuren

Xizang Zizhiqu Renmin Zengfu

1 Kang'angdonglu

Lasashi 850000

Xizang Zizhiqu

People's Republic of China

The Reebok Human Rights Award

Since it was established in 1988, 56 extraordinarily courageous young people
from 28 countries have been honored for their significant contributions by
the Reebok Human Rights Award. All award recipients have been under the age
of 30; none are advocates of violence or belong to an organization which
advocates violence; and all are activists for issues directly relating to
the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

1999 Reebok Human Rights Award recipients will be honored during the week of
March 22, 1999 in New York City. A ceremony will be hosted by the School of
International and Public Affairs of Columbia University on the evening of
Wednesday, March 24th. A series of additional appearances and recognitions
of the award winners will occur during the week; details on events and
access to award recipients will be available in coming weeks.

Reebok Human Rights information, including full biographies of the
recipients, can be accessed on the World Wide Web at

http://www.reebok.com/humanrights.