APPEAL: WEAR YELLOW FOR THE HOLIDAY

[altsean@xxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: APPEAL: WEAR YELLOW FOR THE HOLIDAYS

APPEAL: WEAR YELLOW FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Dear Friends,

As you celebrate these holidays, please wear something yellow (a ribbon,
clip, flower, anything) to remember our brothers and sisters from Burma who
remain separated from their loved ones.

The list is long - not only the political prisoners, internally displaced
people and refugees - but also our colleagues in exile.

Why yellow? Yellow is the colour of the democracy movement. It is such a
dangerous colour that 4 people were given lengthy jail sentences merely for
wearing yellow:

U Ba Soe, Daw Tin Win Yee, Daw Khin Kyi Kyi and Daw Tin Aye of the Zegyo
Market in Mandalay wore yellow on 8 September 1999. Members of the Military
Intelligence accompanied by policemen accused the four of attempting to
create unrest in anticipation of 9-9-99, arrested them and interrogated
them throughout the day. 

The next day they were summarily tried in a court set up in Mandalay Jail
and given prison sentences under section 5 (e). U Ba Soe received 7 years
with hard labour, and the women received 5 years with hard labour. They
were not allowed counsel or the right of defence.

The NLD Legal Aid Committee of Mandalay Division submitted a special appeal
at the Mandalay division High Court on 1 November 1999. The appeal was
heard and dismissed within the day. An appeal will be submitted to the
Supreme Court.

So, when you wear something yellow this holidays, please send us an email
or photo - we will forward these on to Burma to show our brothers and
sisters that they have not been forgotten during the festivities. We have
not forgotten U Ba Soe, Daw Tin Win Yee, Daw Khin Kyi Kyi and Daw Tin Aye,
James Mawdsley, Min Ko Naing, NLD leaders, ethnic leaders, and the ordinary
people who remain prisoners of the military regime.

Wishing you a meaningful Christmas (or holiday of your choice) and a
purposeful 2000,

The Altsean-Burma Secretariat
109 Suthisarnwinichai Road
Samsennok, Huaykwang
Bangkok 10320

P.S.  We'll be closed Dec 25- Jan 5.

-----------------------------------
A L T S E A N - B U R M A
Alternative Asean Network on Burma
Tel: 66 2 275 1811 * Fax: 66 2 693 4515
<altsean@xxxxxxxxxx>