Release Paw U Tun aka Min Ko Naing

Amnesty International (AI) campaigns for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience. These are people who are imprisoned by reason of their political, religious or other conscientiously held beliefs or by reason of their ethnic origin, sex, colour or language, provided they have not used or advocated violence.

Amnesty International considers Paw U Tun to be a prisoner of conscience detained solely because of the non-violent expression of his political beliefs, in contravention of the rights to freedom of expression and association. He has not used or advocated violence. Amnesty International calls for his immediate and unconditional release.

Paw U Tun alias Min Ko Naing, Chairman of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU), was arrested on 24 March 1989. He was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment (later commuted to 10 years under a general amnesty) for his anti-government activities.

Paw U Tun launched his appeal for peaceful political action in the name of 'Min Ko Naing' in 1988, a pseudonym he and at least 18 other students had adopted earlier to sign posters and leaflets criticizing military rule. It means 'Conqueror of Kings'.

Min Ko Naing was severely tortured and ill-treated during the early stages of his detention and his health suffered as a consequence.

Although Min Ko Naing should have been released in March 1999 on completion of his sentence, he is still held at Sittway Prison, Rakhine State.

The undersigned request the immediate and unconditional release of Paw U Tun.
The undersigned request an end the arrest and imprisonment of all prisoners of conscience in Myanmar.
The undersigned urge the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to release all prisoners of conscience unconditionally and immediately and to ensure that no-one is imprisoned solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association.
The undersigned urge the SPDC to bring an end to the practice of using the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act to criminalize peaceful political activity and people peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of opinion, expression and association.
(Articles 19 and 20 of the UDHR)
The undersigned urge the SPDC to ensure that all political prisoners receive prompt and fair trials in accordance with international standards and to review all the cases of prisoners convicted by military tribunals
(Article 10 of the UDHR)
The undersigned urge the SPDC to ensure that no-one is subjected to torture or ill-treatment in custody by security personnel; and to investigate all allegations of torture and bring the perpetrators to justice
(Articles 5 and 8 of the UDHR)
The undersigned urge the SPDC to ensure that conditions of imprisonment conform to international standards for the treatment of offenders; and to ensure that all prisoners are allowed regular access to relatives, lawyers and doctors and are provided with adequate medical treatment for their needs
Body of Principles, Principles 18 (3) and 19).