On Thursday, May 14, just two weeks before her house detention was due to expire, Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested on highly dubious charges.

Ms. Suu Kyi and two female companions are facing trial in connection with a recent incident in which an uninvited intruder swam across a lake to her home in Rangoon and stayed there for two days.

We have been using the influence of many countries to pressure the military junta to free Aung San Suu Kyi immediately. The United Nations, the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom and even Thailand [on behalf of The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)] have either condemned or expressed their concern for the issue.

It is now time to directly pressure the Myanmar government and demand the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners!

TAKE ACTION NOW

Send the e-mail below to the Consulate-General of Myanmar in Hong Kong, urging the Myanmar government for the immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi from all forms of imprisonment.

Ms. Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy, has been detained for 13 of the past 19 years, mostly under house arrest in Rangoon. Her current house detention order is set to expire on May 27, 2009.

MORE INFORMATION

In March 2009, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said that the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi violated both international law and Myanmar's domestic legislation.

Amnesty International is also highlighting the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi's two female companions, Khin Khin Win and her daughter, who were arrested at the same time. All three are facing trial on May 18 in connection with an incident at the beginning of May when an American national - identified as Mr. John Yettaw - allegedly swam across the lake in front of her house and stayed there for two days.

"Khin Khin Win, her daughter and Dr. Tin Myo Win are now among more than 2,100 political prisoners currently being held in prison in Myanmar" said Benjamin Zawacki. "Just like other political prisoners, they are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. Conditions in Myanmar prisons are extremely bad and jeopardise the health of prisoners".

"In the absence of a unified international voice, the Myanmar government will continue to act in utter disregard for human rights. Now more than ever, the Security Council and ASEAN member states must send an unequivocal signal to the generals that they can no longer act with impunity," Benjamin Zawacki concluded.

Take action now before it's too late to help Aung San Suu Kyi in her fight for freedom.
  
Mail your appeals to:

Dr. Surin Pitsuwan
Secretary-General
The ASEAN Secretariat
70A Jl. Sisingamangaraja
Jakarta 12110
Indonesia
Tel: +62 21 726-2991, 724-3372
Fax: +62 21 739-8234, 724-3504

Dr. Surine Pitsuwan
Secretary-General of the ASEAN
c/o Royal Thai Consulate General to Hong Kong
8/F Fairmont House
8 Cotton Tree Dr.
Central
Tel: +852 2845-8905
Fax: +852 2840-0458

Mr. U Ye Myint Aung
Consul-General
Gonsulate-General of the Union of Myanmar
24/F Sun Hung Kai Center #2401
30 Harbour Road
Wanchai
Tel: +852 2845-0810 
Fax: +852 2845-0820
 
There are currently over 2,100 political prisoners, with Aung San Suu Kyi being one of them. Sign the petition of the Free Burma's Political Now calling for their immediate and unconditional release. 

Name:

Email:

Dear General Than Shwe:

We are deeply concerned that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's freedom is yet again threatened, days before her house arrest is set to expire on 27 May.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained for 13 of the past 19 years, mostly under house arrest. This latest threat now sees her possibly going to prison after an uninvited American man stayed at her residence for two days. Conditions of prisons in Myanmar are extremely bad and jeopardise the health of prisoners.

I urge your government to demonstrate Myanmar's commitment to human rights by ordering the immediate and unconditional release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and the over 2,100 prisoners of conscience, and not return Ms Suu Kyi to house arrest.

I thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

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