Urgent Action U Ohn Myint, advisor

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URGENT ACTION

EXTERNAL                                   AI Index: ASA 16/03/98

UA 63/98       Fear for Safety/Fear of Ill-treatment 2 March 1998

MYANMAR        U Ohn Myint, age 81


Amnesty International is concerned about the safety and whereabouts of U =
Ohn Myint, an advisor to the National League for Democracy (NLD), =
Myanmar's major opposition party led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. U Ohn =
Myint was also a friend of the late General Aung San, the Burmese =
national independence hero and father of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.  O Ohn =
Myint was detained at about 11.30pm on 23 February 1998 for questioning =
and has not been heard from since.  It is not known where he is being =
held or what, if any, charges have been made against him.
Ill-treatment, particularly during initial interrogation of political =
prisoners, is common in Myanmar.
On 1 March the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC, the new name =
of Myanmar's military government) conducted a press conference alleging =
recent "terrorist plots and subversive activities" and naming some 40 =
people who were allegedly involved in plans to detonate bombs and =
assassinate members of the government. It is believed that these named =
people were arrested in late 1997. In the press briefing U Ohn Myint was =
accused of collaborating with others in producing and illegally =
distributing articles entitled "History of the Student Movements, Me and =
They and Witnesses to History".  The SPDC stated that the articles were =
"largely exaggerated and biased accounts of events based on a few =
facts".  No further statements are known to have been made about the =
articles, or about U Ohn Myint himself.
U Ohn Myint had been previously arrested in June 1997 at the same time =
as several NLD members, and released unharmed in late July 1997.  His =
name and the name of several NLD members were mentioned in a June 1997 =
press release given by Myanmar's military government. In the government =
press statement they were accused of obtaining a videotape of Daw Aung =
San Suu Kyi and arranging for it to be taken out of the country.
Amnesty International is also concerned that U Ohn Myint, who is 81 =
years old, should be receiving immediate and regular access to proper =
medical treatment.  =20

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On 15 November 1997 the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC, =
Myanmar's military government since September 1988) reorganized and =
renamed itself the State Peace and Development Council.  According to =
reports the changes were made because of widespread corruption among =
some members of the government, who were subsequently expelled. However, =
the government's policies appear generally unchanged, particularly with =
regard to human rights, and far-reaching repression of people opposing =
the government continues.=20


RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/express/airmail =
letters in English or your own language:
calling on the authorities to immediately make known the whereabouts of =
U Ohn Myint and any charges against him;
calling on the authorities to release him immediately and =
unconditionally if he is being held solely for his peaceful political =
activities;
calling on the authorities to ensure that while detained U Ohn Myint is =
not ill-treated and is held in conditions which meet international human =
rights standards.

APPEALS TO:
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
Telegrams: General Than Shwe, Yangon, Myanmar
Telexes: 21316
Salutation: Dear General

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
Telegrams: General Khin Nyunt, Yangon, Myanmar
Telexes: 21316
Salutation: Dear General

COPIES TO diplomatic representatives of MYANMAR accredited to your =
country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International =

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