URGENT APPEAL - THE OBSERVATORY
MMR 004 / 0715 / OBS 061
Arbitrary arrest and detention
Burma
July 24, 2015
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Burma.
Brief description of the situation :
The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the arbitrary arrest of leader of the Myanmar Farmers Union Ms. Su Su Nway.
According to the information received, on July 23, 2015, Ms. Su Su Nway was arrested by police in Intagaw, Pegu Township, Pegu Division, after meeting with farmers involved in a land confiscation dispute on her way back to Rangoon. Ms. Su Su Nway had been meeting with farmers who were seeking the return of land that the military had confiscated from them in Nyaunglebin Township in 2003.
The same day, a court in Pegu Division charged Ms. Su Su Nway under Article 447 of the Criminal Code (trespassing) and sent her to Pegu Prison. Ms. Su Su Nway denied the charges and turned down bail, which had been granted by the court.
In early June, police in Intagaw informed Ms. Su Su Nway that a local Army commander, Captain Hein Zaw, had filed charges against her for trespassing. She had refused to answer the charge. Her trial is set to begin on July 29, 2015.
Ms. Su Su Nway has previously been detained on various occasions between 2005 and 2007. She was eventually released along with hundreds of other political prisoners during a October 12, 2011 presidential amnesty.
The Observatory condemns the arrest and judicial harassment of Ms. Su Su Nway, which seem merely aimed at sanctioning her peaceful human rights activities, and calls upon the Burmese authorities to release her immediately and unconditionally.
Actions requested :
Please write to the Burmese authorities, urging them to :
i. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of all human rights defenders in Burma, including Ms. Su Su Nway ;
ii. Immediately and unconditionally release Ms. Su Su Nway since her detention is arbitrary and only aimed at sanctioning her human rights activities ;
iii. Put an end to acts of any acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against Ms. Su Su Nway and all human rights defenders in Burma ;
iv. Comply with all the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, in particular with its :
Article 1, which stipulates that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels” ;
Article 12.1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to participate in peaceful activities against violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms” ;
Article 12.2, which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration” ;
v. More generally, ensure in all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and ratify international and regional human rights instruments.
Addresses :
U Thein Sein, President of Myanmar, President Office, Office No.18, Naypyitaw, MYANMAR ; Fax : + 95 1 652 624
Lt Gen Ko Ko, Minister for Home Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Office No. 10, Naypyitaw, MYANMAR ; Fax : +95 67 412 439
U Win Mra, Chairman of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, 27 Pyay Road, Hline Township, Yangon, Republic of the Union of Myanmar ; Fax : +95-1-659668
Dr. Tun Shin, Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General, Office No. 25, Naypyitaw, MYANMAR ; Fax : +95 67 404 146/ 106
U Tun Tun Oo, Chief Justice, Office of the Supreme Court, Office No. 24, Naypyitaw, MYANMAR ; Fax : + 95 67 404 059
U Kyaw Kyaw Htun, Director General, Myanmar Police Force, Ministry of Home Affairs, Office No. 10, Naypyitaw, MYANMAR ; Fax : +951 549 663 / 549 208
H.E. Mr. Maung Wai, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Avenue Blanc 47, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland. Fax : +41 22 732 89 19, +41 22 732 73 77, Email : mission@myanmargeneva.org
Embassy of Myanmar in Brussels, Boulevard Général Wahis 9, 1030 Brussels, Belgium, Fax : +32 (0)32 2 705 50 48, Email : mebrussels@skynet.be
Please also write to the diplomatic representations of Burma in your respective countries.
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Paris-Geneva, July 24, 2015
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
The Observatory, a FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need.