Burmese Rohingya Association in Japan (BRAJ)

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Position Statement on Recent Lengthy Imprisonment of U Kyaw Min.

Date : 2nd August 2005.
Press Release: No. 5/ BRAJ/ 2005

Position Statement on Recent Lengthy Imprisonment of U Kyaw Min
Burmese Rohingya Association in Japan (BRAJ)


We, the Burmese Rohingya Association in Japan (BRAJ), feel extremely shocked to know the unexpected news of verdict, a 47 year term of imprisonment on U Kyaw Min, (alias) U Shomshul Anwarul Hoque, a prominent Rohingya intellectual and politician. He is an elected Member of Parliament of National Democratic Party for Human Rights from Buthidaung Constituency, Arakan State and one of the members of the Committee for Representing the People’s Parliament (CRPP).

U kyaw Min was arrested on the 17th of March from his residence in Rangoon without any concrete reason and detained in the most notorious Insein Jail in Rangoon without any legal charges since then, His wife , one son and two daughters who are still students were picked up later and locked up in the same jail. They all were tried by a military court situated within the prison with Emergency Provision Acts and Acts relating to nationality.
U Kyaw Min was given a 47 year prison term and his wife and three children were each given 17 year term. During the period of their detention and trail, they were not allowed to be visited by their relatives or any friend, nor permitted to hire a lawyer in defense. The military court also fined them 50,000 Kyat each and if they were not able to pay, the court ordered them to serve 2 extra years each. The health conditions of U Kyaw Min’s wife and one of her daughters are reported to be deteriorating. It is also learned that the hefty sentences were imposed on the family after U Kyaw Min refused to sign a pledge promising to quit the CRPP and to resign from the Member of Parliament.

Hence, it is quite clear that the verdict is nothing more than an over-act of exercise of judicial system. We assume it as an act of “State Terrorism” and intimidation up on its own people by the SPDC particularly upon democratic forces and ethnic minorities.

Indeed, the imprisonment of Rohingya Leader U Kyaw Min and his family members was politically and racially motivated. The fact is that it also based on religious discrimination. We are very much concerned for their safety and security. It is absolutely unfair and unjust. We at BRAJ strongly condemn such a cruel and unlawful action of military regime.

We demand to the military regime of Burma for the immediate release of U Kyaw Min and his family members. In this regard, We BRAJ solemnly call up on the international community and all Peace Loving People around the world to take a necessary and urgent action for the immediate release of U Kyaw Min and his family members, national democratic leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all the political detainees.

Executive Committee
Burmese Rohingya Association in Japan (BRAJ)