UA: 179/14 Index: ASA 16/015/2014 Myanmar Date: 18 July 2014
URGENT ACTION
ACTIVISTS FACING JAIL FOR PEACEFUL PROTEST
Eight Chin human rights defenders in Myanmar are facing imprisonment for peacefully protesting against impunity for sexual violence in Chin State. If convicted and jailed, Amnesty International would consider them prisoners of conscience.
The eight activists – six women, Ngun Chin Par, Sui Sui Kyi, Kaw Htwe, Khin Khin Zi, Thang Zing and Khin Thluai Par and two men, Maung Han and Tei Mang – have been charged with protesting without permission after they took part in peaceful demonstrations in Rezua sub-township and Matupi town in Matupi township, Chin State on 23 and 24 June. The protests were organized after a man believed to be a soldier from the Myanmar Army attempted to rape a 55-year-old woman from Rezua sub-township, and beat her, on 10 June. The solider is understood to have been arrested and handed over to the military by police.
Activists from the Zotung Women’s Organization (ZWO) and the Matupi Women’s Organization (MWO) later applied to their local police stations for official permission to protest peacefully in Rezua sub-township and Matupi town. Neither application was granted. The activists went ahead anyway, and peaceful protests were held in Rezua sub-township on 23 June and Matupi town the next day, attended by hundreds of people.
Four activists from the Zotung Women’s Organization, two from the Matupi Women’s Organization and two from the Matupi Youth Association (MYA) were summoned to their local police stations on 25 June and charged with protesting without permission under Article 18 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law. They are facing up to one year in prison. All eight activists were released on bail and are being tried by the Matupi District Court in two separate cases. The next court hearings are due to take place on 22 July.
Please write immediately in English or your own language:
Calling on the Myanmar authorities to drop the charges against Ngun Chin Par, Sui Sui Kyi, Kaw Htwe, Khin Khin Zi, Thang Zing, Khin Thluai Par, Maung Han and Tei Mang immediately;
Calling on them to repeal or else amend all laws which restrict the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, so as to comply with international human rights law and standards;
Calling on them to order a prompt, effective and independent investigation into the allegations of attempted rape on 10 June, bring those responsible to justice in a civilian court, in trials which meet international standards of fairness.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 29 AUGUST 2014 TO:
President Thein Sein
President’s Office
Nay Pyi Taw
Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Salutation: Your Excellency
Minister of Home Affairs
Lt Gen. Ko Ko
Ministry of Home Affairs
Office No. 10
Nay Pyi Taw
Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Salutation: Dear Minister
And copies to:
Chairman, Myanmar National Human
Rights Commission
U Win Mra
27 Pyay Road, Hline Township
Yangon
Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below:
Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax Fax number Email Email address Salutation Salutation
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
URGENT ACTION
ACTIVISTS FACING JAIL FOR PEACEFUL PROTEST
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Ngun Chin Par, Sui Sui Kyi, Kaw Htwe and Khin Khin Zi are activists with the Zotung Women’s Organization (ZWO). Thang Zing and Khin Thluai Par are activists with the Matupi Women’s Organization (MWO) and Maung Han and Tei Mang are activists with the Matupi Youth Association (MYA).
Human rights defenders and activists in Myanmar are being arrested and detained simply for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and assembly, enshrined in Articles 19 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Amnesty International is particularly concerned about the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law, which has been used to detain scores of activists since it was enacted in 2012. Former UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, has identified the law as one of a number of legal provisions which are used to detain prisoners of conscience and has repeatedly called on the Myanmar authorities to bring it into line with international human rights law and standards.
Amnesty International receives ongoing reports of rape and other crimes of sexual violence committed by the security forces in Myanmar, in particular by military officials against women from ethnic minority groups. Perpetrators are rarely brought to justice, and victims/ survivors are often unable to access adequate medical, psychological, mental health and, sexual and reproductive services or treatment.
On 5 June 2014 Myanmar became the 150th state to sign the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict. The Declaration includes a range of actions to be taken by states to “raise awareness of [sexual violence], to challenge the impunity that exists and to hold perpetrators to account, to provide better support to victims, and to support both national and international efforts to build the capacity to prevent and respond to sexual violence in conflict”. The Myanmar authorities are not known to have taken any concrete action to give effect to the commitments outlined in the Declaration.
Names: Ngun Chin Par, Sui Sui Kyi, Kaw Htwe, Khin Khin Zi, Thang Zing, Khin Thluai Par, Maung Han and Tei Mang.
Gender m/f: both
UA: 179/14 Index: ASA 16/015/2014 Issue Date: 18 July 2014