Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been following closely events in Burma since the government multiplied the cost of fuels there without warning over a week ago, prompting public protests. Latest reports from many sources indicate that at least 65 persons have now been taken into custody in connection with the demonstrations. The AHRC is calling for a much stronger response from the United Nations to this critical situation.
As has been widely reported in international news, on 15 August 2007 the government in Burma unexpectedly and dramatically increased the costs of vehicle fuels from two-thirds to five-fold, spurring immediate increases in public transport fares and also causing rises in other prices: in the former capital, Rangoon, the cost of staple food items, including rice, beans and oil, quickly increased from four to 18 per cent.
As most people in Burma are already living in or close to poverty, the price rises have sparked public protests on nearly every day since August 19, in which members of the public have walked peacefully through the streets. On August 24 further demonstrations were reported in Rangoon and in Mogoke, in Mandalay Division, upper Burma.
Some video footage of the protests is available on You Tube; for instance at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvm_rhfYovQ.
Government-organised gangs, referred to as Swan-arshin, and members of the quasi-official Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) have broken up most of the protests and detained participants (see below for background information).
Since August 21 the authorities have been coming to houses and other places and arresting the leaders of the protests. On August 22 the state media reported that 13 persons belonging to the 88 Generation Students Group were arrested. The 13 are being held at the central prison, awaiting charges. They are out of at least 65 persons currently said to be detained and interrogated. Some of the recent arrestees include the following persons:
1. U Myint Aye, the leader of the Human Rights and Promoters and Defenders group: taken by township council officials and Special Branch police from near his house in Rangoon on the morning of August 24. In the last month, seven other persons connected with the group have been imprisoned (see: UP-108-2007; UP-105-2007; AHRC-OL-025-2007).
2. Ko Htin Kyaw, the leader of the Myanmar Development Committee: arrested with another member of his group, Ko Zaw Nyunt, a few minutes into demonstrating in Rangoon during the afternoon of August 25. The two men were assaulted. Htin Kyaw and his colleagues had organised protests against rising prices earlier in the year but had been released after interrogation and “re-education”.
3. Solo protestors U Ohn Than and Aye Win: Ohn Than was arrested outside the US embassy on 23 August 2007. He had in the past staged a number of similar protests and been jailed repeatedly. Aye Win was arrested in Bassein, Irrawaddy Division on August 24 for protesting outside the main market. Both had been holding placards decrying the increased fuel prices. Aye Win was reportedly taken to the local police station on a motorcycle, during which time he continued to wave his protest sign to the interest and amusement of onlookers, as it appeared as if the police were helping him to demonstrate. Aye Win also had previously been jailed for two years after the lethal attack on a convoy of democracy proponents in Depayin during 2003 (see: report by the Asian Legal Resource Centre).
Other persons reportedly arrested on August 24 include National League for Democracy (NLD) members Ko Thein Myint, who was punched while being arrested by a Special Branch officer; Ko Nyunt Win and Ko Saw Lwin, taken from a public bus by USDA members and fire brigade personnel; and Ko Aung Zaw, taken from his house also by USDA and fire brigade personnel.
There are also reports and photographs being circulated of vehicles parked around central areas of Rangoon to be used to make any arrests the instant that protests occur. Other persons are still being sought out by the authorities and have gone into hiding. Warrants for arrest with photographs are said to be posted at the airport.
See further the earlier statement and open letter issued by the AHRC on the protests: AS-197-2007; AHRC-OL-028-2007.
So also a commentary on UPI Asia Online: Milking the cow dry in Burma.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
It is important to note that the gangs of Swan-arshin are assaulting protestors and making illegal arrests under the guidance of local council officials, special branch police and army officials who are wearing plain clothes: they are not “pro-government” gangs as described in many international media reports, as this description suggests that the participants have organised autonomously. The gang members are organised through local traders whose livelihoods depend on cooperation with government officials, or in some cases reportedly on short notice by officials going and rounding up unemployed men from poor urban areas with the promise of a meal and some money.
For examples of other recent cases involving the Swan-arshin and USDA, see further: UA-230-2007; UA-096-2007; see also statements by the AHRC–AS-173-2007 and AS-125-2007–and related comment on UPI Asia Online: If you can’t beat them, beat them up.
The fire brigade is also used in Burma as a proxy security force: see for instance, the killing case of Ko Thet Naing Oo in 2006 by fire brigade personnel and municipal security: UA-097-2006.
According to a report by Democratic Voice of Burma radio, the anti-protests crackdown is being coordinated by an army officer, Colonel Than Han, together with USDA secretary, U Aung Thaung. Col. Than Han is reportedly the officer who was responsible for coordinating the 2003 Depayin massacre and clean-up operations (see report: http://www.article2.org/pdf/v02n06.pdf).
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the United Nations Secretary General and other concerned persons in the UN system to call for a concerted response to the recent events in Burma. Please note that for the purpose of the letter, the country should be referred to by its official title of Myanmar, rather than Burma, and Rangoon as Yangon.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
MYANMAR: At least 65 persons detained after protests at rising prices; UN must act
I am writing to express my deep concern over the recent arrests and detention of at least 65 persons who were involved in protests in Myanmar after the sudden increase in fuel prices there of 15 August 2007.
As you are aware, since August 19 there have been repeated protests against the sudden increase in costs of diesel, compressed natural gas and ordinary petrol costs, which have already pushed up the prices of daily commodities in the impoverished country: rice is reported to have increased in cost by four to 13 per cent in Rangoon alone during the last week, while split beans have increased by eight to 18 per cent. Protests are so far reported to have occurred in Yangon, Mandalay and Ayeyarwaddy Divisions.
Government-organised gangs, referred to as Swan-arshin, and members of the quasi-official Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) have broken up most of the protests and detained participants, under the guidance of local council officials, special branch police and army officials who are wearing plain clothes. They are not simply “pro-government” gangs as widely reported. According to one news report, they are being coordinated by a Myanmar Armed Forces officer, Colonel Than Han, together with USDA secretary, U Aung Thaung. Col. Than Han is also said to have been involved in the lethal May 2003 attack on a convoy carrying democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters at Depayin in upper Myanmar.
Since August 21 the authorities have been coming to houses and other places and arresting the leaders of the protests. On August 22 the state media reported that 13 persons belonging to the 88 Generation Students Group were arrested, and on August 25 it reported that “action will be taken against them in accord with the law”. The 13 are being held at Insein Prison. But in addition, it is believed that as of August 25 at least 65 persons have been detained and interrogated. Among them, I wish to draw special attention to:
1. U Myint Aye, the leader of the Human Rights and Promoters and Defenders group: taken by the Kyimyintaing Township Peace and Development Council chairman, U Aung Kyaw Moe, and officials, along with Special Branch police led by Deputy Superintendent Win Myint from near his house at 11:30am on 24 August 2007, while he was taking food in celebration of his wife’s birthday to his in-laws.
2. Ko Htin Kyaw, the leader of the Myanmar Development Committee: arrested with another member of his group, Ko Zaw Nyunt, a few minutes into demonstrating nearby the Theingyi Market in Rangoon around 1pm, 25 August 2007. According to onlookers, they were assaulted as they were put into a waiting vehicle. Htin Kyaw and his colleagues had organised protests against rising prices earlier in the year but had been released after interrogation and “re-education”.
3. Solo protestors U Ohn Than and Aye Win: Ohn Than was arrested outside the US embassy on 23 August 2007. He had in the past staged a number of similar protests and been jailed repeatedly. Aye Win was arrested in Bassein, Irrawaddy Division on August 24 for protesting outside the main market. Both had been holding placards decrying the increased fuel prices. Aye Win also had previously been jailed for two years after the lethal attack on a convoy of democracy proponents in Depayin during 2003.
Other persons reportedly arrested on August 24 include National League for Democracy (NLD) members Ko Thein Myint, of Ward 54 in South Dagon Township of Rangoon, who was punched while being taken by a Special Branch officer as he was going to a protest at Tamwe; Ko Nyunt Win and Ko Saw Lwin, taken from a number 56 public bus by USDA members and fire brigade personnel led by Deputy Station Chief Htay Aung; and Ko Aung Zaw of Ward 56 in South Dagon, also arrested by USDA and fire brigade personnel.
There are also reports and photographs being circulated of vehicles parked around central areas of Yangon to be used to make any arrests the instant that protests occur. Other persons are still being sought out by the authorities and have gone into hiding. Warrants for arrest with photographs are said to be posted at the airport.
At this critical time the active involvement of the international community is absolutely vital. People of Myanmar are looking for and depending upon support from outside in order to emerge from the decades of dictatorship under which they have been forced to subsist. I therefore call upon you and all concerned agencies and mandates within the United Nations system to take special responsibility to see that the situation there obtain the highest attention and priority in the days and weeks ahead.
Your swift intervention is crucial. I await it with the highest expectations.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
Mr. Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary General
Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary General
United Nations
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NY 10017
USA
Tel: +1 212 963 5012
Fax: +1 212 963 7055 or 2155 (ATTN: SECRETARY GENERAL)
E-mail: ecu@un.org
PLEASE SEND COPIES TO:
1. Professor Ibrahim Gambari
Undersecretary General for Political Affairs
United Nations
S-3770A
New York
NY 10017
USA
Tel: +1 212 963 5055/ 0739
Fax: +1 212 963 5065/ 6940 (ATTN: UNDER SECRETARY GENERAL POLITICAL AFFAIRS)
E-mail: gambari@un.org
2. Ms. Louise Arbour
High Commissioner
UN High Commission on Human Rights
OHCHR-UNOG
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1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917-9006 (ATTN: HIGH COMMISSIONER)
3. Mr. Doru Romulus Costea
President
UN Human Rights Council
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SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9012 (ATTN: PRESIDENT HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL)
E-mail: hrc@ohchr.org
4. Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro
Special Rapporteur on Myanmar
Attn: Mr. Laurent Meillan
c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: + 41 22 9179 281
Fax: + 41 22 9179 018 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR MYANMAR)
E-mail: lmeillan@ohchr.org
5. Ms. Leila Zerrougui
Chairperson
Working Group on arbitrary detention
Attn: Mr Miguel de la Lama
OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTENTION: WORKING GROUP ARBITRARY DETENTION)
6. Ms. Hina Jilani
Special Representative of the Secretary General for human rights defenders
Att: Melinda Ching Simon
Room 1-040
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 93 88
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS)
7. Mr. Ambeyi Ligabo
Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression
c/o J Deriviero
OHCHR-UNOG
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SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9177
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION)
8. Homayoun Alizadeh
Regional Representative
OHCHR Regional Office for Southeast Asia
Room 601, Block A, 6th Floor
UN Building
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Bangkok, 10200
THAILAND
Tel: + 662 288 1496/ 1235
Fax: +662 288 3009
E-mail: ohchr.bangkok@un.org
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)
