Free HRDP Activists in Burma

Madame Navi Pillay
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights(OHCHR)
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

December 15, 2010

Dear Madame Navi Pillay,

Urgent Action: Free HRDP Activists in Burma (Myanmar)

I am writing to express my grave concern for 29 HRDP activists from Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Network (Burma) serving long prison term inside Burma. Since 2004, HRDP activists were imprisoned for promoting and defending human rights in Burma.

HRDP activists have already been imprisoned for lengthy periods of time and are being held in poor prison conditions.

Whereas the Burmese government is one of the member states of the United Nations and it has to respect the article 55. (c)- To promote the universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms and article 56- all members pledge themselves to take joint and separate action in co-operation with the organization for the achievement of the purpose set forth in article 55 of the Charter of the United Nations (1945).

Whereas the Burmese government signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 and Burma is one of the signatories of Convention on the Rights of Child (CRC), Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discriminations Against Women (CEADAW) and it has to respect Universal Norms of human rights which described in the respective Covenants.

I respectfully call for the immediate intervention of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to bring about HRDP activists immediate and unconditional release from Burmas prisons.

List of the HRDP activists behind bar

NAME PRISON TERM PRISON

1. Aung Gyi (aks) Moe Aung Soe :(Detention/ Insein Prison)
2. Aung Kyaw Moe :(11 years/ Shwebo Prison)
3. Aung Myo :(Detention/ Katha Prison)
4. Aung Zaw Moe :(10 years/ Insein Prison)
5. Aung Zaw Oo :(22 years/ Buthidaung Prison)
6. Ba Nyein :(N/A / Henzada Prison)
7. Maung Kan :(10 years/ Taunggyi Prison)
8. Maung Maung Latt :(10 years/ Thandwe Prison)
9. Maung Maung Than :(N/A / Shwebo Prison)
10.Min Aung :(15 years/ Kale Prison)
11.Min Nyo :(N/A / Shwebo Prison)
12.Myint Aye :(life sentence and 8 years/ Loikaw Prison)
13.Myint Hlaing(aka)Myint Naing :(8 years/ Kale Prison)
14.Myint Soe :(N/A /Prome Prison)
15.Myo Min :(8 years/ Kyaukpyu Prison)
16.Myo Min Wai :(15 years/ Hkamti Prison)
17.Myo Thant(aka)John Nawtha :(6 and 6 months / Myingyan)
18.Nan Aung(aka)Kappali :(8 years/ Insein Prison)
19.Phyo Zaw Latt(aka)Ko Wa Toke :(14 years / Taungoo)
20.Soe Moe Aung(aka)Htor Gyi :(N/A / Shwebo Prison)
21.Soe Myint Htein :(4 and 6 months / Taunggyi Prison)
22.Than Zaw Myint(aka)Sie Phaine:(8 years / Thaton Prison)
23.Thein Naing :(N/A / N/A)
24.Thiha :(22 years / Putao Prison)
25.Tun Tun Oo(aka)Pa Yut :(19 years / Meiktila)
26.Tun Tun Oo(aka)Than Myint :(N/A /Katha)
27.Win Ko :(17 years / Taungoo)
28.Zaw Lin :(2 years / Katha)
29.Zaw Zaw Aung :(life sentence and 8 years / Yemethin)

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.