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BURMA: At least 65 persons reported arrested over protests against fuel prices

August 25, 2007

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ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAM

Urgent Appeal

26 August 2007

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UA-260-2007: BURMA: At least 65 persons reported arrested over protests against fuel prices

BURMA: Arbitrary arrest; denial of right to free expression; un-rule of law
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been following closely events in Burma since the government multiplied the cost of fuels there without warning over a week ago, prompting public protests. Latest reports from many sources indicate that at least 65 persons have now been taken into custody in connection with the demonstrations. The AHRC is calling for a much stronger response from the United Nations to this critical situation.

As has been widely reported in international news, on 15 August 2007 the government in Burma unexpectedly and dramatically increased the costs of vehicle fuels from two-thirds to five-fold, spurring immediate increases in public transport fares and also causing rises in other prices: in the former capital, Rangoon, the cost of staple food items, including rice, beans and oil, quickly increased from four to 18 per cent.

As most people in Burma are already living in or close to poverty, the price rises have sparked public protests on nearly every day since August 19, in which members of the public have walked peacefully through the streets. On August 24 further demonstrations were reported in Rangoon and in Mogoke, in Mandalay Division, upper Burma.

Some video footage of the protests is available on You Tube; for instance at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvm_rhfYovQ.

Government-organised gangs, referred to as Swan-arshin, and members of the quasi-official Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) have broken up most of the protests and detained participants (see below for background information). 

Since August 21 the authorities have been coming to houses and other places and arresting the leaders of the protests. On August 22 the state media reported that 13 persons belonging to the 88 Generation Students Group were arrested. The 13 are being held at the central prison, awaiting charges. They are out of at least 65 persons currently said to be detained and interrogated. Some of the recent arrestees include the following persons:

1. U Myint Aye, the leader of the Human Rights and Promoters and Defenders group: taken by township council officials and Special Branch police from near his house in Rangoon on the morning of August 24. In the last month, seven other persons connected with the group have been imprisoned (see: UP-108-2007; UP-105-2007; AHRC-OL-025-2007).

2. Ko Htin Kyaw, the leader of the Myanmar Development Committee: arrested with another member of his group, Ko Zaw Nyunt, a few minutes into demonstrating in Rangoon during the afternoon of August 25. The two men were assaulted. Htin Kyaw and his colleagues had organised protests against rising prices earlier in the year but had been released after interrogation and "re-education".

3. Solo protestors U Ohn Than and Aye Win: Ohn Than was arrested outside the US embassy on 23 August 2007. He had in the past staged a number of similar protests and been jailed repeatedly. Aye Win was arrested in Bassein, Irrawaddy Division on August 24 for protesting outside the main market. Both had been holding placards decrying the increased fuel prices. Aye Win was reportedly taken to the local police station on a motorcycle, during which time he continued to wave his protest sign to the interest and amusement of onlookers, as it appeared as if the police were helping him to demonstrate. Aye Win also had previously been jailed for two years after the lethal attack on a convoy of democracy proponents in Depayin during 2003 (see: report by the Asian Legal Resource Centre).

Other persons reportedly arrested on August 24 include National League for Democracy (NLD) members Ko Thein Myint, who was punched while being arrested by a Special Branch officer; Ko Nyunt Win and Ko Saw Lwin, taken from a public bus by USDA members and fire brigade personnel; and Ko Aung Zaw, taken from his house also by USDA and fire brigade personnel. 

There are also reports and photographs being circulated of vehicles parked around central areas of Rangoon to be used to make any arrests the instant that protests occur. Other persons are still being sought out by the authorities and have gone into hiding. Warrants for arrest with photographs are said to be posted at the airport.

See further the earlier statement and open letter issued by the AHRC on the protests: AS-197-2007; AHRC-OL-028-2007.

So also a commentary on UPI Asia Online: Milking the cow dry in Burma.


BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

It is important to note that the gangs of Swan-arshin are assaulting protestors and making illegal arrests under the guidance of local council officials, special branch police and army officials who are wearing plain clothes: they are not "pro-government" gangs as described in many international media reports, as this description suggests that the participants have organised autonomously. The gang members are organised through local traders whose livelihoods depend on cooperation with government officials, or in some cases reportedly on short notice by officials going and rounding up unemployed men from poor urban areas with the promise of a meal and some money.

For examples of other recent cases involving the Swan-arshin and USDA, see further: UA-230-2007; UA-096-2007; see also statements by the AHRC--AS-173-2007 and AS-125-2007--and related comment on UPI Asia Online: If you can't beat them, beat them up. 

The fire brigade is also used in Burma as a proxy security force: see for instance, the killing case of Ko Thet Naing Oo in 2006 by fire brigade personnel and municipal security: UA-097-2006.

According to a report by Democratic Voice of Burma radio, the anti-protests crackdown is being coordinated by an army officer, Colonel Than Han, together with USDA secretary, U Aung Thaung. Col. Than Han is reportedly the officer who was responsible for coordinating the 2003 Depayin massacre and clean-up operations (see report: http://www.article2.org/pdf/v02n06.pdf).


SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the United Nations Secretary General and other concerned persons in the UN system to call for a concerted response to the recent events in Burma. Please note that for the purpose of the letter, the country should be referred to by its official title of Myanmar, rather than Burma, and Rangoon as Yangon.

To support this appeal, please click here:

Sample letter:

Dear __________,

MYANMAR: At least 65 persons detained after protests at rising prices; UN must act

I am writing to express my deep concern over the recent arrests and detention of at least 65 persons who were involved in protests in Myanmar after the sudden increase in fuel prices there of 15 August 2007.

As you are aware, since August 19 there have been repeated protests against the sudden increase in costs of diesel, compressed natural gas and ordinary petrol costs, which have already pushed up the prices of daily commodities in the impoverished country: rice is reported to have increased in cost by four to 13 per cent in Rangoon alone during the last week, while split beans have increased by eight to 18 per cent. Protests are so far reported to have occurred in Yangon, Mandalay and Ayeyarwaddy Divisions. 

Government-organised gangs, referred to as Swan-arshin, and members of the quasi-official Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) have broken up most of the protests and detained participants, under the guidance of local council officials, special branch police and army officials who are wearing plain clothes. They are not simply "pro-government" gangs as widely reported. According to one news report, they are being coordinated by a Myanmar Armed Forces officer, Colonel Than Han, together with USDA secretary, U Aung Thaung. Col. Than Han is also said to have been involved in the lethal May 2003 attack on a convoy carrying democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters at Depayin in upper Myanmar.

Since August 21 the authorities have been coming to houses and other places and arresting the leaders of the protests. On August 22 the state media reported that 13 persons belonging to the 88 Generation Students Group were arrested, and on August 25 it reported that "action will be taken against them in accord with the law". The 13 are being held at Insein Prison. But in addition, it is believed that as of August 25 at least 65 persons have been detained and interrogated. Among them, I wish to draw special attention to:

1. U Myint Aye, the leader of the Human Rights and Promoters and Defenders group: taken by the Kyimyintaing Township Peace and Development Council chairman, U Aung Kyaw Moe, and officials, along with Special Branch police led by Deputy Superintendent Win Myint from near his house at 11:30am on 24 August 2007, while he was taking food in celebration of his wife's birthday to his in-laws.

2. Ko Htin Kyaw, the leader of the Myanmar Development Committee: arrested with another member of his group, Ko Zaw Nyunt, a few minutes into demonstrating nearby the Theingyi Market in Rangoon around 1pm, 25 August 2007. According to onlookers, they were assaulted as they were put into a waiting vehicle. Htin Kyaw and his colleagues had organised protests against rising prices earlier in the year but had been released after interrogation and "re-education".

3. Solo protestors U Ohn Than and Aye Win: Ohn Than was arrested outside the US embassy on 23 August 2007. He had in the past staged a number of similar protests and been jailed repeatedly. Aye Win was arrested in Bassein, Irrawaddy Division on August 24 for protesting outside the main market. Both had been holding placards decrying the increased fuel prices. Aye Win also had previously been jailed for two years after the lethal attack on a convoy of democracy proponents in Depayin during 2003.

Other persons reportedly arrested on August 24 include National League for Democracy (NLD) members Ko Thein Myint, of Ward 54 in South Dagon Township of Rangoon, who was punched while being taken by a Special Branch officer as he was going to a protest at Tamwe; Ko Nyunt Win and Ko Saw Lwin, taken from a number 56 public bus by USDA members and fire brigade personnel led by Deputy Station Chief Htay Aung; and Ko Aung Zaw of Ward 56 in South Dagon, also arrested by USDA and fire brigade personnel. 

There are also reports and photographs being circulated of vehicles parked around central areas of Yangon to be used to make any arrests the instant that protests occur. Other persons are still being sought out by the authorities and have gone into hiding. Warrants for arrest with photographs are said to be posted at the airport.

At this critical time the active involvement of the international community is absolutely vital. People of Myanmar are looking for and depending upon support from outside in order to emerge from the decades of dictatorship under which they have been forced to subsist. I therefore call upon you and all concerned agencies and mandates within the United Nations system to take special responsibility to see that the situation there obtain the highest attention and priority in the days and weeks ahead.

Your swift intervention is crucial. I await it with the highest expectations.

Yours sincerely,

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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

Mr. Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary General
Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary General
United Nations
S-378 New York
NY 10017
USA
Tel: +1 212 963 5012
Fax: +1 212 963 7055 or 2155 (ATTN: SECRETARY GENERAL)
E-mail: ecu@un.org

PLEASE SEND COPIES TO:

1. Professor Ibrahim Gambari
Undersecretary General for Political Affairs
United Nations
S-3770A
New York
NY 10017
USA
Tel: +1 212 963 5055/ 0739
Fax: +1 212 963 5065/ 6940 (ATTN: UNDER SECRETARY GENERAL POLITICAL AFFAIRS)
E-mail: gambari@un.org

2. Ms. Louise Arbour
High Commissioner
UN High Commission on Human Rights
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax:  +41 22 917-9006 (ATTN: HIGH COMMISSIONER)

3. Mr. Doru Romulus Costea
President
UN Human Rights Council
c/o OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9012 (ATTN: PRESIDENT HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL)
E-mail: hrc@ohchr.org 

4. Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro
Special Rapporteur on Myanmar
Attn: Mr. Laurent Meillan
c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: + 41 22 9179 281
Fax: + 41 22 9179 018 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR MYANMAR)
E-mail: lmeillan@ohchr.org

5. Ms. Leila Zerrougui
Chairperson
Working Group on arbitrary detention
Attn: Mr Miguel de la Lama
OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTENTION: WORKING GROUP ARBITRARY DETENTION)

6. Ms. Hina Jilani
Special Representative of the Secretary General for human rights defenders
Att: Melinda Ching Simon
Room 1-040
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 93 88
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS)

7. Mr. Ambeyi Ligabo
Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression
c/o J Deriviero
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9177
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION)

8. Homayoun Alizadeh
Regional Representative
OHCHR Regional Office for Southeast Asia
Room 601, Block A, 6th Floor
UN Building
Rajdamnern Nok Avenue
Bangkok, 10200
THAILAND
Tel: + 662 288 1496/ 1235
Fax: +662 288 3009
E-mail: ohchr.bangkok@un.org

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)

Document Type :
Urgent Appeal Case
Document ID :
UA-260-2007
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Extended Introduction: Urgent Appeals, theory and practice

A need for dialogue

Many people across Asia are frustrated by the widespread lack of respect for human rights in their countries.  Some may be unhappy about the limitations on the freedom of expression or restrictions on privacy, while some are affected by police brutality and military killings.  Many others are frustrated with the absence of rights on labour issues, the environment, gender and the like. 

Yet the expression of this frustration tends to stay firmly in the private sphere.  People complain among friends and family and within their social circles, but often on a low profile basis. This kind of public discourse is not usually an effective measure of the situation in a country because it is so hard to monitor. 

Though the media may cover the issues in a broad manner they rarely broadcast the private fears and anxieties of the average person.  And along with censorship – a common blight in Asia – there is also often a conscious attempt in the media to reflect a positive or at least sober mood at home, where expressions of domestic malcontent are discouraged as unfashionably unpatriotic. Talking about issues like torture is rarely encouraged in the public realm.

There may also be unwritten, possibly unconscious social taboos that stop the public reflection of private grievances.  Where authoritarian control is tight, sophisticated strategies are put into play by equally sophisticated media practices to keep complaints out of the public space, sometimes very subtly.  In other places an inner consensus is influenced by the privileged section of a society, which can control social expression of those less fortunate.  Moral and ethical qualms can also be an obstacle.

In this way, causes for complaint go unaddressed, un-discussed and unresolved and oppression in its many forms, self perpetuates.  For any action to arise out of private frustration, people need ways to get these issues into the public sphere.

Changing society

In the past bridging this gap was a formidable task; it relied on channels of public expression that required money and were therefore controlled by investors.  Printing presses were expensive, which blocked the gate to expression to anyone without money.  Except in times of revolution the media in Asia has tended to serve the well-off and sideline or misrepresent the poor.

Still, thanks to the IT revolution it is now possible to communicate with large audiences at little cost.  In this situation there is a real avenue for taking issues from private to public, regardless of the class or caste of the individual.

Practical action

The AHRC Urgent Appeals system was created to give a voice to those affected by human rights violations, and by doing so, to create a network of support and open avenues for action.  If X’s freedom of expression is denied, if Y is tortured by someone in power or if Z finds his or her labour rights abused, the incident can be swiftly and effectively broadcast and dealt with. The resulting solidarity can lead to action, resolution and change. And as more people understand their rights and follow suit, as the human rights consciousness grows, change happens faster. The Internet has become one of the human rights community’s most powerful tools.   

At the core of the Urgent Appeals Program is the recording of human rights violations at a grass roots level with objectivity, sympathy and competence. Our information is firstly gathered on the ground, close to the victim of the violation, and is then broadcast by a team of advocates, who can apply decades of experience in the field and a working knowledge of the international human rights arena. The flow of information – due to domestic restrictions – often goes from the source and out to the international community via our program, which then builds a pressure for action that steadily makes its way back to the source through his or her own government.   However these cases in bulk create a narrative – and this is most important aspect of our program. As noted by Sri Lankan human rights lawyer and director of the Asian Human Rights Commission, Basil Fernando:

"The urgent appeal introduces narrative as the driving force for social change. This idea was well expressed in the film Amistad, regarding the issue of slavery. The old man in the film, former president and lawyer, states that to resolve this historical problem it is very essential to know the narrative of the people. It was on this basis that a court case is conducted later. The AHRC establishes the narrative of human rights violations through the urgent appeals. If the narrative is right, the organisation will be doing all right."

Patterns start to emerge as violations are documented across the continent, allowing us to take a more authoritative, systemic response, and to pinpoint the systems within each country that are breaking down. This way we are able to discover and explain why and how violations take place, and how they can most effectively be addressed. On this path, larger audiences have opened up to us and become involved: international NGOs and think tanks, national human rights commissions and United Nations bodies.  The program and its coordinators have become a well-used tool for the international media and for human rights education programs. All this helps pave the way for radical reforms to improve, protect and to promote human rights in the region.