Burma: Aung San Suu Kyi must be freed immediately

AI Index: ASA 16/022/2003 (Public)
News Service No: 202

Media Release

Updated 11th November 2003

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi reportedly stated that she had been offered to have restrictions on her lifted, and that she would only agree to this when all others detained at the same time as her were freed from detention. Authorities also stated that she was not being held under any provision of the law and that the other Central Executive Committee members are being held under Section 10 b of the State Protection Law (which allows for detention without charge or trial). The Special Rapporteur said that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was in "high spirits".

35 people detained on 30 May 2003 remain in detention, including U Tin Oo, who is being held in Kalay Prison. He was able to meet with 3 members of the NLD's Central Executive Committee. 101 people have been released after 30 May 2003, who were present at the attack on political party members.

He said that he particularly raised the situation of elderly prisoners of conscience, and stated that he was able to meet with U Win Tin, who told him that he did not wish to talk about himself, but about the political situation and that of his friends he has been writing poems by mixing brick powder and water. U Win Tin also stated that "The problem is, that I forget everything. If I am not writing, I am forgetting everything". He stated that U Win Tin was in a better state of health, and that U Thu Wai is in a very frail state.