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CHIN -- URGENT ACTION: Update



URGENT ACTION REQUIRED (update)
 
 
The Burma Peace Foundation has received reports from reliable
Chin sources that John Khaw Kim Thang (Burmese name No Than
Kap), founder and former President of the Chin National Front
(CNF), who until a few days ago was living in Aizawl, Mizoram,
India, is now in the hands of the Burmese army. 
 
The reports state that on 21 August he met Colonel K.J.
Griwell, alias Colonel Sathi, of the Directorate of Military
Intelligence, Delhi. The reports state that Col. Griwell told
him that India was willing to train John's men, and invited
him to Vairengte Training Centre, Mizoram, to meet a superior
officer to discuss the proposal in detail. John and three of
his men, the reports continue, accompanied Col. Griwell to
Vairengate, from where he telephoned his wife to say that
everything was fine, that she should not worry, and that he
might continue on to Delhi. The reports state that from then 
there was no news of John until 28 August when a relative
received information that the Indian Army had handed him over
to the Burmese Army and that he was being held in Kalemyo army
camp in Burma. Two of the Indian Intelligence services, the
Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) attached to the Ministry of
External Affairs, and the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB)
attached to the Home Ministry, are said to have denied all
knowledge of the matter. It is not known if  Military
Intelligence, attached to the Indian Army, has been
approached. Colonel Griwell is said to be a fluent Burmese
speaker.
 
John Khaw Kim Thang was born in Falam, Chin State, in 1953. In
1988 he was elected as CNF President and founded the Chin
National Army. From 1992 he devoted less time to military
affairs and more to writing and political activities. He was a
founder-member of the Democratic Alliance of Burma. In 1994
and 1995 he travelled to Geneva and addressed the UN Working
Group on Indigenous Populations. He was married in 1995. His
wife is expecting a child in December.
 
 
There is a danger that John may be tortured and/or killed.
Please alert the media and ask all appropriate UN officers,
governments and human rights organisations to ask the Burmese
authorities for further details of No Than Kap's detention. It
should be made clear to the Burmese authorities that John's
well-being and physical integrity are of concern to the
international community.
 
 
David Arnott
 
31 August 1996
 
Burma Peace Foundation, 85, Rue de Montbrillant, 1202, Geneva,
Switzerland
 
Tel/Fax  (+41-22) 733 2040; Email darnott@xxxxxxxxxxx