[RE: UA-112-2004: BURMA: Complaints against forced labour blocked and victims punished issued on 3 September 2004; UP-11-2005: BURMA: Four officials sentenced to prison for forced labour in Kawmhu Township, Yangon Division; UP-63-2005: BURMA: Local officials seek revenge against villager who obtained first successful forced labour prosecution; UP-68-2005: BURMA: Preliminary hearing against villager who obtained first successful forced labour prosecution completed; UP-73-2005: BURMA: Defamation case against villager continues; UP-117-2005: BURMA: Human rights defender Ma Su Su Nwe jailed in Insein Prison; UP-119-2005: BURMA: Latest news on jailing of human rights defender Ma Su Su New; UP-124-2005: BURMA: Jailed human rights defender Ma Su Su Nwe reportedly denied medicines; UP-132-2005: BURMA: South Rangoon District Court summarily rejects appeals against prison terms; UP-147-2005: BURMA: Division court also summarily rejects case of ailing Ma Su Su Nwe]
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UP-006-2006: BURMA: Ma Su Su Nwe hospitalised; Supreme Court to hear case
BURMA: Forced labour; impunity; un-rule of law; threats to human rights defender; arbitrary detention; cruel and inhuman treatment; denial of right to health
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Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to inform you that the Supreme Court in Burma will hold a preliminary hearing on the case of Ma Su Su Nwe, the villager and human rights defender detained for successfully complaining against local authorities about forced labour, on 1 February 2006. [See recent appeals: UP-147-2005 and UP-132-2005; see full case details: UA-112-2004.]
She will be represented by U Kyi Win and U Myint Thaung, who have made successive appeals on her behalf to lower courts since she was jailed on 13 October 2005, all of which have been rejected. U Myint Thaung has said that he is not hopeful of the outcome but they would argue to the court that the charges against Ma Su Su Nwe were fabricated as revenge for her successful complaint against the local officials.
If the appeal at the Supreme Court fails, the final recourse is to lodge a second plaint in the Supreme Court for a special review of the case.
Meanwhile, Ma Su Su Nwe, who has a chronic heart condition and has reportedly been denied medicines after being jailed for 20 months, is said to have been hospitalised for January 4 to 7 after suffering shortness of breath and sweating. She is also reportedly suffering from anaemia.
Please again write to the government authorities in Burma or the embassy or consulate in your country stressing your concern about the grave situation of Ma Su Su Nwe. If you haven’t done so already, please also write to your own foreign ministry or equivalent to urge that it take up the case through diplomatic channels: please refer to previous updates for sample letters and contact details: UP-119-2005, UP-124-2005 and UP-132-2005.
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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