THAILAND: Pro-democracy Burmese activists arrested in Bangkok, more crackdowns may follow 

Dear Friends

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) has reported that the police in Bangkok arrested 11 Burmese activists for distributing leaflets demanding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. The 11 activists are detained at the Immigration Detention Center (IDC) and Thai authorities have indicated that the 11 activists may be deported to Burma, including Refugees and ¡®Persons of Concern¡¯, carrying documents issued by the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned that if the 11 activists are returned to Burma, they are likely to be detained, tortured or even executed. Your urgent action is required to pressure the authorities not to deport the 11 activists to Burma and to allow legal representatives access to them.

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Desk

Asian Human Rights Commission

SITUATION:

On 26 June, Police from Phasi Charoen station in Bangkok arrested 11 Burmese activists, including columnist and key member of the Democratic Federation of Burma (DFB), Soe Muhem, for distributing leaflets demanding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. The activists were rounded up while meeting to plan a protest in front of the Burmese embassy on 30 June. Phasi Charoen Police Chief, Chatcharin Swangwong, said the arrests were made in accordance with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s policy to “keep order in the country”. The 11 activists are now locked up at the Immigration Detention Center (IDC) after being charged with illegal entry into Thailand. Thai authorities have indicated that the 11 activists may be deported to Burma, including Refugees and ¡®Persons of Concern¡¯ carrying documents issued by the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Most of the 11 activists were Burmese students who campaigned for democracy and had to flee from prosecution to find political asylum in Bangkok.

Names of those arrested:
1. Moe Hein (Male) UNHCR refugee
2. Zeya Win (Male) UNHCR refugee
3. Htay Lwin (Male) UNHCR refugee
4. Saw Naing Kyaw (Male) UNHCR refugee
5. Khin Thandar Soe (Female) UNHCR refugee
6. Khin Maung San (Male) Asylum seeker at UNHCR
7. Zaw Min Latt (Male) Asylum seeker at UNHCR
8. Soe Thu Lwin (Male) Asylum seeker at UNHCR
9. Kyaw Kyaw (Male) Asylum seeker at UNHCR
10. Ko Latt (Male) Asylum seeker at UNHCR
11. Ko Ko Naing (Male) Asylum seeker at UNHCR

The AHRC is very concerned that there will be further crackdowns. On 27 June, Prime Minister Thaksin said in the English newspaper, The Nation that it was time to seriously regulate the activities of Burmese students in Thailand. On 26 June, Thai language newspapers reported that the National Security Council (NSC), the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Defense and the National Police Office received a warning from the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), Burma¡¯s ruling military junta, that Burmese student activists might be planning to raid the Burmese embassy in Bangkok, kidnap Burmese diplomats and Thailand¡¯s Minster of Interior or bomb the Bangkok Airport in an effort to campaign for the freedom of imprisoned Opposition Leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. Burmese student activists strongly deny reports warning of their involvement in a possible raid on the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok. Exiled student leader of the All Burma Students¡¯ Democratic Front (ABSDF) said that the false tips given to the Thai authorities was a ploy by the SPDC to create justification for a major crackdown on pro-democracy groups, which have until now been given refuge in Thailand.

BACKGROUND:

Since last year, Prime Minister Thaksin has adopted a policy to impose restrictions on activities of pro-democracy and human rights groups working on Burma issues. The Thai government adopted a security directive on 4 July 2002, which has officially imposed a ban on pro-democracy and human rights groups with the objective to mend relations with Burma¡¯s ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). In order to secure its economic interests in Burma, the Thai government is determined to prove that it has no intention at all to support anti-SPDC groups. Since July 2002, pro-democracy and dissident groups, as well as Thai and foreign NGOs working on the Thai-Burma border, have been under close surveillance. At times, they have faced harassment and raids from security and law enforcement agencies. Some organizations, especially those in the Sangkhlaburi district of Kanchanaburi province, decided to close down in fear of arrest and deportation.

Colonel Somkhuan Saenpattaranate, Army Spokesman, announced during an official press conference on 26 December 2002 that “the Thai government and the army would not allow any foreign groups or nationals to use our territory to launch military raids or conduct unfriendly activities against neighboring countries. Their misadventure could seriously affect our national security and relations with neighbors.” Soon after that the National Security Council (NSC) Secretary General, General Winai Phattiyakhul, said on 29 December 2002 that Thailand would end its role of sheltering and resettling refugees fleeing political conflicts.

After Aung San Suu Kyi and members of the National League of Democracy (NLD) were attacked and arrested on 30 May 2003, Thailand has called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. However, this event shows that concerns for personal business interests and warm relations with the SPDC are still at the top of Prime Minister Thaksin¡¯s agenda.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter to:

1. Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra
Prime Minister
Government house,
Pitsanulok Road, Dusit District,
Bangkok 10300
THAILAND
Fax: +66 2 282 8631
Email: govspkman@mozart.inet.co.th

2. HE Purachai Piumsombun
Minister of Interior
Ministry of Interior, Thanon Atsadang, Bangkok 10200, THAILAND
Tel: +662 224-6320/6341
Fax: +662 226-4371
Email: webteam@moi.go.th

3. Prof. Saneh Chamrik
Chairperson
The National Human Rights Commissoner
Street Address: 422 Phya Thai Road
Pathumwan District, Bangkok 10330
THAILAND
Tel: +66 2 219 2940
Fax: +66 2 219 2940
E-mail: commission@nhrc.th

4. Mr. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro
Special Rapporteur for Myanmar
OHCHR-UNOG, 8-14 Avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Ms. Hulan Tsedev
Room 3-090
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Palais Wilson,
Rue des Paquis 52, Geneva
Switzerland
tel: 41 22 9179 281
fax: 41 22 9179 018
email: htsedev.hchr@unog.ch

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