Injustice in Burma: Time to bring Burmese Military Government to International Criminal Court

http://www.demotix.com/en/2008/09/25/injustice-burma-time-bring-burmese-military-government-international-criminal-court

Arresting political dissidents will not solve Burma’s long standing political crisis
One year after "2007 Saffron Revolution" led by Buddhist monks, who were at the forefront of the demonstrations against military dictatorship in Burma, leaders of the bare-foot monks and democracy activists are behind bars facing injustice. Recently, Nilar Thein, who is one of the steering leader of 2007 Saffron revolution got arrested and interrogated.

Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) expressed very serious worry over her arrest and demands the Burmese military regime to avoid ill-treatment and torture. Nilar Thein joined the Burma democracy movement as a high school student in 1988 as a member of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions which is outlaw in Burma and spent eight years in jail from 1996 to 2003 for her political activity.

“We are very concerned over her (Nilar Thein) arrest and seriously worrying that she will face torture, brutal and inhumane treatment. We demand military government to refrain from practices of torturing political dissidents and urged to release them unconditionally”, said Myo Thein, Director of Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) in United Kingdom.



Brutalities facing prisoners of conscience in Burma are only the tip of Ice-Berge. There are a lot more to be revealed when military government is brought into International Criminal Court.

U Sandar Waya (a) U Nyan Win, Buddhist monk, whose only crime is praying for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners, listening to foreign independent media like BBC/Burmese, RFA/Burmese, participating in the Saffron Revolution and the notes of “if the military violently crack down peaceful demonstrations- avoid confrontation and settle the situation peacefully”. He was arrested on 4th October 2007 when military raided his monastery in North Oakalapa, Rangoon without warrant or civilian witness.

Zaw Zaw Aung was involved in peaceful demonstrations in Saffron revolution. Being a NLD member, Zaw Zaw Aung is surveillance by police constantly and charged him under section 124(A). He was arrested by Swan Arr Sinn and USDA members, junta sponsor militias, beaten and transferred to the police. When police lieutenant Than Htay Aung, the government prosecutor, is challenged by the accused counsel whether he is aware of the freedom of expression and freedom of organisations are fundamental human rights according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in which Burma is the signatory country, and he replied “No”-indicates that how Burma is lack of human rights and freedom.

U Peter and Daw Nu Nu Swe have been sentenced to six years in prison accusing them of disturbing police on duty when they came to their house to arrest their son, Sithu Maung, who actively participated in Saffron revolution. The couple was arrested on 29th September last year after they delayed answering the door to the men who did not wear uniform and claimed themselves police asking them to open the door at night around 2 am with no warrant, appeared to be drunken and had not been accompanied by local officials. U Peter and Daw Nu Nu Swe were too scared to open the door as they did not know them and as if they were robbed. Their only crime is delaying in answering door to unknown men who claimed to be police.

Sithu Maung, Thein Swe (a) Min Soe, Myo Thant (a) John Nawtar, Ye Min Oo (a) Kalarlay, Ye Myat Hein (a) Ko Ye, Kyi Phyu, and Zin Lin Aung (a) Rakhine are behind bars. Their only crimes are protesting peacefully in Saffron revolution, expressing truth of fuel prices hike and economic hardship facing the Burmese people.

“Who will save helpless 50 millions Burmese people suffering under brutal military government for nearly half the century? Burma has been forgotten crisis for very long time and even in last year 2007 Saffron revolution, the world witnessed that military regime killed innocent unarmed peaceful demonstrators and no concrete actions have been yet taken by United Nations and international community”, said Khin Maung Win, Director of Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) in United States.

Arresting political dissidents will not solve Burma’s long standing political crisis. International community and Burmese democratic forces have been calling for military junta to release all political prisoners and perform the meaningful time-bound dialogue to find out the solution for current Burma political crisis. Increasing arrest to political dissidents are very alarming that military government have no desire or will to solve the political crisis through non-violent ways and indicating that they will use the force whatever the cost it may be. Burmese military government is openly defying United Nations and international community by increasingly arresting activists. This is time to ask the question that what United Nations will do.

The military maintains an extensive network of Military Intelligence (MI), informers, police, militias such as Swan-Arr-Shin and Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) members, prepared to imprison anyone suspected of holding or expressing anti-government opinions in Burma. Laws have been established that criminalize freedom of thought, expression, association, assembly and movement, thus legitimizing these arbitrary arrests and continued to arbitrarily detain people across Burma for associating with opposition groups.

The military maintained complete control over the legal system and denies basic rights to due process of law, a fair and public trial in political cases.

“We are defending the human-rights and democracy with non-violent way and we have been paying the price very dearly. I would like to stress here that Burma is not only Burmese people crisis but also international crisis as everyone is bond in humanity. If we cannot eliminate military dictatorship in Burma today, there will be another dictator emerge tomorrow from another corner of the world. It could spread like the virus and the world will be at risk of prevailing injustice and aggressors. We have to stop it sensibly and it is our duty to do the RIGHT thing”, said Kyaw Lin Oo, Director of Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) in Thailand. For more information contact,

Myo Thein
00 44 787 788 2386
[United Kingdom]

Khin Maung Win
00 194196126 22
[United States]

Kyaw Lin Oo
00 664107 9352
[Thailand]