Apr 27, 2003

Letter of MUL on the imprisonment of Mon leaders


We express our deep concern on the imprisonment of three Mon political leaders arrested in 1998 for their peaceful political activities

Dear Sir or Madame,

We are writing this letter to express our deep concern on the imprisonment of three Mon political leaders, Nai Ngwe Thein, Dr. Min Soe Lin and Dr. Min Kyi Win who were arrested in 1998 for their peaceful political activities to facilitate social justice and national development in Myanmar.
The mentioned detainees are the lawful leaders (two elected MPs in 1990) of the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF) and were accused of advising the New Mon State Party to reconsider its position on a cease-fire agreement with the junta and for supporting the formation of the Committee Representing People’s Parliament (CRPP) in 1998. They were also accused of spreading rumors inside the country and getting involved in political association that create anarchy. They were sentenced to seven years imprisonment with hard labour, serving their term at the Moulmein Prison, Mon State, in southern Myanmar.
We believe their imprisonment to be untenable, and an apparent persecution of the Mon people as the accused was not instigating mass action or political violence.
We consider the continued imprisonment of these men malicious for the following reasons:
Our source from Mon State and local media reported Nai Ngwe Thein (80 years old), Vice-President of the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF), was admitted to public hospital in Moulmein on April 5 after suffering a stroke that has impaired his right side. He remains under strict prison security overseen by prison guards and the military intelligence. He also suffers from diabetes and a kidney ailment.
Dr. Min Soe Lin suffers from tuberculosis and Dr. Min Kyi Win has a gastric problem and also needs immediate medical treatment. Despite their worsening health and requests from family and colleagues to have the Mon leaders transferred to a civilian hospital in order to receive proper medical treatment, the men continue to remain under heavy guard within the prison system.
Last month, the Myanmar government has released 45 prisoners from various facilities around the country. According to State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) statement, among those released are elderly inmates, females either pregnant or with young children and those incarcerated for disturbing peace and tranquility.
On behalf of Mon Communities around the world and our member organizations, the Mon Unity League call upon the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations to urge the State Peace and Development Council authorities to immediately release our Mon political leaders on the background of their political activities, repeal the Military imprisonment sentenced to Nai Ngwe Thein, Dr. Min Soe Lin and Dr. Min Kyi Win, and guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.


Sincerely Yours,

Nai Sunthorn Sripanngern

Mon Unity League