Urgent Action (fwd)

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Subject: Urgent Action (fwd)
From: tun@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Thu, 03 Mar 1994 09:31:00

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Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date: Wed, 2 Mar 1994 10:25:56 -0700
Sender: Southeast Asia Discussion List
Subject: Urgent call to action--Burma
Lines: 154

Netters,
I'm forwarding a message I just received from Burmese Relief Center--Japan.
Please act on it.
Thank you.
Cameron Beatty (cameronb@xxxxxxxxxxx)
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STUDENTS' COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN BURMA --SCHRB
PO BOX 47, RATCHAWITHI, BKK 10408, PH: 216-4473, Fax: 282-5001

URGENT ACTION APPEAL

THAI AUTHORITIES PLACE 6 BURMESE STUDENTS IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT

Names of Detainees:

Maung Maung Than, Overseas National students Organization of Burma -ONSOB

Nyi Nyi Soe, ONSOB

Toe Kyi, All Burma Basic Education Students Union -- ABBESU

Tin Taung Htoo, ABBESU,

Nai Ong Hin Overseas Mon National Students Organization -- OMNSO

Hla Win, ABBESU.

Background
On December 3rd, 1993, 13 Burmese dissidents were arrested by Thai police
while attending a seminar to discuss ways in which to use non-violent
action to bring peace and democracy to their troubled land. The seminar was
organized by three Thai organizations -- the Students Federation of
Thailand (SFT), the Students Committee for Human Rights in Burma (SCHRB),
and the Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (ACDB). It was the first
time that Burmese dissidents had been arrested at such a seminar, and
indicated a hardening of the Royal Thai government's police towards Burmese
dissidents seeking asylum in Thailand.

On 6th December, the students were found guilty of illegal immigration and
sentenced to 40 days imprisonment at the Immigration Detention Centre
(IDC), or a time of 3800 baht. On the same day, Thai Foreign Minister
Prasong Socksin stated thai Thailand would no longer treat the Burmese
students leniently as it had in the past and added that"Any gathering of
Bursae here for whatever reason will be regarded as an illegal political
activity, no matter the number of participants." A week later, Thai
immigration officers stated that ten of the students would soon be sent to
the Special Detention Centre at the Police Training Academy in Bangkhen in
Bangkok. A campaign conducted by the above mentioned Thai students and
human fights groups has since secured the release of seven of the thirteen
students -- two to a safe part of the Thai/Burmese border and five to the
Safe Area camp in Ratchaburi province.

Six students still in detention
The six students whose names appear at the top of the page were not
released. Instead they were detained at the IDC until 4th February and then
transferred to the Special Detention Centre. When a group of students from
the SFT attempted to visit the detainees on 8th February, the officer in
charge, Pol. Col. Kasem Rabkhamindra refused them permission. He then told
the SFT representatives that the six detainees would be held in solitary
confinement for one month because the National Security Council CNSC)
wanted to continue its investigation into alleged activities undertaken by
them against the Burmese "government" from Thai soil.

According to Pol. Col. Kasem, each student is being held incommunicado
except for a once a week visit
from a UNHCR doctor. They each occupy a different room and are denied any
access to lawyers,
correspondence, newspapers, books or exercise in the open air, all of which
have been permitted in the past for Burmese students arrested for political
activities in Thailand. The SFT was then told that it must write to the SDC
authorities to ask for permission to visit the students.

The issuance on February 14th of a memo to all students residing at the
"Safe Area" camp has also added to our concern. One of the conditions of
staying at the "safe camp" is that students may be granted passes to leave
the camp for periods of up to 7 days each month. Some students, including
some of those now in solidary confinement at the SDC have overstayed their
leave from the camp. The memo states that those who overstay their leave
from the camp three or more times are "liable to be repatriated". It is
uncertain whether the Thai authorities intend to repatriate such offenders
to a safe (i.e. rebel controlled) part of the border or into the hands of
the SLORC.

We are worried for the security and well being of these students who have
now served more than twice the period of detention for which they were
sentenced. The current incommunicado detention is illegal under Thai and
International law. We strongly urge you to write letters to the Thai
authorities listed below, reminding them that Thailand is a signatory to
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and requesting that:

1. The students be transferred to the safe area if they are
registered there or to a safe part of the border if they are not.

2. If they have been charged with a recognizable offense, they be
allowed full rights under Thai law to legal counsel, a free and fair trial,
visitation and other rights, including access to correspondence,
newspapers, books and exercise in the open air.

3. They be treated humanely according to internationally accepted
codes of practice for the treatment of detainees.

4. They are on no account repatriated for SLORC controlled

Thank you for your support for human rights in Thailand.

Yours sincerely,

Angkana Sriboonrod -- SCHRB
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Please address politely worded letters to the following people:

Mr. Nipon Wisityuthasart
Paliamentary Commission on Justice and Human Rights
c/o National Assembly -- Parliament of Thailand,
Uthong Nai Rd. BKK 10300
Thailand

Ph: 66-2-244-1500
Fax:66-2-280-1206
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Pol. Col. Kasem Rabkhamindra
Bangkhen Police Training Academy
Viphavadee Rangsit Rd.
Don Maung, BKK 10210
Thailand

Ph:66-2-52 1-0421
Fax:66-2-42 1-5308
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Permanent Secretary Jaran Kullawanich,
Government House
National Security Council,
Phitsanuloke Rd.
Susit, BKK 10300
Thailand

Ph: 66-2-281-1430
Fax: 66-2-280-1681
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Deputy Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuan
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Akarn Wangsalalom
1 Sananchai Rd.
Ratchawithi, BKK 10300
Thailand

Ph:66-2-225-0096
Fax:66-2-226-1374