Janelle Saffin, International Commission of Jurists Australian Section (ASICJ) Convenor of the Burma/Myanmar sub-committee, today demanded that military strongman General Than Shwe release immediately and unconditionally Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo, U Lwin and other NLD political prisoners.

“The anniversary of their one hundreth and fifty third day in detention has is bearing approaching and we want General Than Shwe to know that the whole world is counting, watching and expecting action.”

“If he and the military junta’s newly appointed military intelligence supremo ‘Prime Minister’ General Khin Nyunt think that they can get away with such extraordinary behaviour they need to take a reality check.”

“It is not 1989, when they detained and gaoled both Aung San Suu Kyi and Tin Oo, and when the world knew little about the venality of Burma/Myanmar’s ruling Generals.”

Ms Saffin continued, “It is 2003 and the world has a documented history of the systemic and appalling violations of human rights committed by the military that Senior General Than Shwe commands. Such atrocities therefore him, have been condemned in UN fora since 1991.”

“Firstly it must be stated that the ICJ does not recognise the junta’s State Protection Act 1975 as being good law, it is clearly bad law violating all precepts of the rule of law, under which it is said Ms Suu Kyi is held in “protective custody” according to General Than Shwe’s strongmen. You never hear it from him, he appears too scared to enter public debate, barking out orders and hiding is style,” accused Ms Saffin.

“Having said this however, General Than Shwe who heads up the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) Cabinet ordered their detention; continues to order their detention, and does not even ensure that the provisions of the State Protection Act are complied with.”

“General Than Shwe cannot claim that martial law is lifted (since 1992), when martial rule still applies and when his Cabinet exercises executive, legislative and judicial power.”

Ms Saffin stated, “He ignored the sixty day review stipulation (Section 16), they have ignored the stipulation that to detain the persons for more than ninety days and it is clearly prescribes, no longer than one hundred and eighty days (Section 10 (a)), the Central Board of which General Than Shwe is a member, needed the approval of Cabinet (Section 12) which he heads, and the stipulation for the Central Board to report ‘about its activities’ every ninety days (Section 17) and so on.”

“It is clear that by any account their detention is unlawful and arbitrary, violating the very tenet of the rule of law in abrogation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which these Generals claim in UN fora to abide by.”

“The world is watching, counting the days, and each day Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo, U Lwin and other NLD members are detained, brings closer the intervention and the inability to find a homegrown solution to their political crisis.”

“The recycling of dictators to self-appointed ‘governance’ roles and grand announcements of ‘roadmaps’ is not the action that will prevent this.”

“Only the immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo, U Lwin and other NLD and political prisoners including those under house arrest and immediate moves to democratic change will be a step in the right direction to bringing the country back to legality,” concluded Ms Saffin.

For media contact please ring Janelle Saffin on 0418-664001