25 November 2003

DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI AND ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS MUST BE FREED

The Members of Parliament Union (MPU) criticizes junta’s delayed and diversion tactics, and reiterates its call for the immediate and unconditional release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Members of Parliament (MPs) and all political prisoners.

The junta said on Monday that five out of nine Central Executive Committee members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) have been released after six months under house arrest. However, NLD Chairman U Aung Shwe, General Secretary Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Secretary U Lwin remain under house arrest while Vice-Chairman U Tin Oo is in Kalay prison near the Indian border. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all eight members of NLD Central Executive Committee were detained after the Depayin massacre on 30 May.

"The release of five senior NLD leaders is just a part of the junta’s delayed and diversion tactics to ease international criticism, especially since the current session of the United Nations General Assembly is expected to adopt a tough resolution against Burma”, said Daniel Aung, MPU Vice President.

“We have seen that the junta has been using the release of some political prisoners at a very slow pace and the off and on secret talks with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as a show case to ease international pressure, gain legitimacy and prolong military rule. We call upon the international community to take concerted and coordinated actions against the junta to immediately and unconditionally release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi along with 33 MPs and all political prisoners”, said Daniel Aung.

The United Nations' Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma, Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, earlier this month also demanded the junta to release some 1,300 political prisoners, particularly the elderly and infirm. Prof. Pinheiro said some 153 opposition figures had been put under detention following the Depayin massacre and 27 of them remained in jail.

The MPU consistently calls on the military junta to start the meaningful dialogue with the NLD led by Aung San Suu Kyi and representatives of the ethnic nationalities for a negotiated political settlement in Burma by immediately and unconditionally releasing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi along with all political prisoners as a first step.

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For further information, please contact:

1. Mr. Maung Maung Latt (Secretary of MPU), Mobile: (+66) 1 733 3891 (Thailand)

2. Dr. Myint Cho (Director of MPU), Tel/Fax: (+61-2) 9646 1211 (Australia) or

Mobile (+61) 402 135 767