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SLORC ARRESTED MORE THAN 2000 FOR C (r)



Subject: SLORC ARRESTED MORE THAN 2000 FOR CALLING FOR HUMAN RIGHTS REFORMS

Source ABC/AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

               Governments and quasi-governmental
               organizations committed serious human-rights
               violations in virtually every country of the Asia
               Pacific region during 1996, according to Amnesty's
               report. 
                    Security forces and armed opposition groups were
               responsible for widespread extrajudicial executions and
               "disappearances," while torture and ill-treatment were
               common in police stations and prison cells. Authorities held
               thousands of political prisoners in jail without the benefit of
               fair trials, or used repressive security laws to gag critics. 
                    The report says 1996 was the worst year for human-rights
               in Burma (Myanmar) since 1990. More than 2,000 people
               were arrested after they demonstrated or spoke out in favor
               of for human-rights reforms while opposition figures were
               attacked by government organized mobs.
                    In Sri Lanka, disappearances reached the highest level
               since 1992, with Amnesty documenting more than 220 cases,
               mostly in the Jaffna peninsula. 
                    Amnesty also worries that China might severely curtail
               freedoms of expressions and association in Hong Kong after
               its return to Chinese sovereignty on July 1, expressing
               particular concern about a proposal to "give the authorities
               more leeway to ban peaceful demonstrations." 

                Afghanistan 
                Taliban religious reforms see woman and girls beaten with
                chains for being outside their homes or not wearing
                religious garb.
                              
                China 
                Thousands of dissidents jailed. About 6,000 prisoners
                sentenced to death. About 3,500 confirmed executions. 
                               
                India 
                Security forces and other armed groups attacked and
                abducted journalists covering elections.
                              
                Indonesia 
                Crackdown on pro-democracy activists detained and on
                trial for subversion.
                               
                Burma (Myanmar) 
                More than 2,000 arrested for calling for human-rights
                reforms.