(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN welcomed the recent releases of over eleven members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), amongst them journalist Daw San San Nwe, comedians U Pa Pa Lay and U Lu Zaw, and writer Aung Khin Sint. International PEN encouraged the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to release […]
(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN welcomed the recent releases of over eleven members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), amongst them journalist Daw San San Nwe, comedians U Pa Pa Lay and U Lu Zaw, and writer Aung Khin Sint. International PEN encouraged the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to release all others who remain detained in Myanmar solely for the peaceful exercise of their right to free expression and therefore in violation of Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
On 18 July 2001, the military authorities in Myanmar announced that eleven NLD members had been released from prison, among them journalist Daw San San Nwe and dissident writer Aung Khin Sint. The announcement follows the release on 13 July of comedians U Pa Pa Lay and U Lu Zaw. All had been imprisoned since the mid-1990’s.
Daw San San Nwe (pen name Tha ya wadi), 54 year-old eminent writer and journalist, had served seven years of a 10-year prison sentence for reporting on human rights abuses in her country. She was arrested on 5 August 1994 for her peaceful opposition activities, and sentenced on 6 October 1994 to seven years’ imprisonment under Section 5 (e) of the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act for “spreading false information.” She was given an additional three years under Section 17 (1) of the Unlawful Associations Act for “membership or contact with illegal organisations.” She has written a total of 12 novels, over 500 short stories and over 100 poems. Her writing has been banned in Myanmar since the beginning of the 1988 democracy movement.
U Pa Pa Lay and U Lu Zaw, performers with a traditional Burmese entertainment troupe Myo Win Mar (Our Own Way), had served over five years of a seven-year prison term for one of their comic performances. They were arrested on 7 January 1996 after a comic performance which took place at the home of NLD leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on 4 January as part of Independence Day celebrations. According to the military authorities, during the show they reportedly used words liable to threaten public order and state security. They were charged with spreading “false news, knowing that it is untrue,” and each sentenced on 18 March to seven years imprisonment.
Aung Khin Sint, medical doctor, writer on health issues, and elected NLD member, was arrested on 23 July 1996 and ordered to serve the remaining 19 years and six months of a 20-year prison term for which he had been amnestied. He had first been detained on 3 August 1993 and sentenced to twenty years in prison for destabilising national unity, printing and publishing material without official registration, and improper use of official secret documents. He was released under amnesty on 4 February 1995.
The release of U Pa Pa Lay, U Lu Zaw, Daw San San Nwe and Aung Khin Sint took place just before a major national ceremony to mark Martyr’s Day on 19 July, the anniversary of the assassination of General Aung San. The releases are believed to be part of a thaw in relations between the military government and the banned NLD since the SPDC and NLD leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (General Aung San’s daughter) embarked on confidential talks in October 2000. No information on the progress of the talks has been made public, but since the start of the talks over 150 NLD members have been freed and the party has been given permission to re-open eighteen of its branch offices. However, approximately 1,700 political prisoners remain detained in Myanmar, including eleven writers, which are International PEN’s main cases.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– welcoming the release of journalist Daw San San Nwe , comedians U Pa Pa Lay and U Lu Zaw, and writer Aung Khin Sint
– noting that at least eleven writers remain detained in Myanmar
– calling on them to release all those detained in Myanmar solely for peacefully expressing their opinions in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Appeals To
Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt
Secretary 1
State Peace and Development Council
c/o Director of Defence Services Intelligence (DDSI)
Ministry of Defence
Signal Pagoda Road
Dagon Post Office
Yangon, Union of Myanmar
Fax: +95 1 229 50
Senior General Than Shwe
Chairman
State Peace and Development Council
c/o Director of Defence Services Intelligence (DDSI)
Ministry of Defence
Signal Pagoda Road
Dagon Post Office
Yangon, Union of Myanmar
Fax: +95 1 229 501
If possible please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for Myanmar in your country.
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
