MEMORANDUM

To,

            Mr. Manmohon Singh
            Prime Minister of India
            South Block, Raisina Hill
            New Delhi,
            India – 110001
 

MEMORANDUM

Dated : 14th January 2006.

Sir,

            I, the undersigned 'a social worker and a beleiver of democracy, taking responsibility of the Peoples Rights Organisation, a voluntary, non – profit, non – governmental organisation, with a mission to promote human rights through – action, research, documentation, campaign, avocacy and human rights education to the people; having no boundary and openly share views and worked together with local, national and international organisations whom we share common interest and principles guided by the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights (1948) and other International Human Rights Standards, and does not support or oppose any particular government, political system, religious creed or the views of individuals or groups whose human rights we work to protect', expressing my deep and serious concern about the safety of the Burmese refugees who have been taking asylum in our state, Manipur, beg to submit the following lines for your kind consideration and necessary action.

            That, since the 1988 nationwide pro – democracy uprising in Burma , hundreds of thousands of people, most of them from ethnic minority groups, continue to live precariously as internally displaced people, with more than two million fled to neighbouring countries including India and has been taken asylum with the supervision of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the government of the respective country.

            That, in India, the organisation of the Burmese refugees, 'Burmese Solidarity Organisation' (BSO) have been working for the welfare of the refugees and also provides training in health, computer skill and avocacy (democracy and human rights) to the Burmese refugees and ethnic groups along the Myanmar (Burma) / India border. To bring democracy in Burma, their activities are strict to peaceful and democratic means, i.e., by  campaigning and lobbying other countries and international organisations to gain sympathy and support.

            That, now the safety of the Burmese refugees is uncertain due to frequent intrusion of the Myanmar Army in the Indian territory, taking advantage of the improper border fencing. – On 14th January night at about 10.30 pm, an armed group of about 25 – 30 intruded into the border town of Moreh in Manipur and abduct two BSO activist, namely Maung Maung Oo (m) aged 40, liaison officer of BSO and Chit Thein Tun (m) aged 42, member of alliance affair department of BSO, from their office at Moreh, India. Both were resident of the Burmese Refugees Camp (BRC), Leikun, Chandel district, Manipur, India. EVEN THOUGH THE INCIDENT WAS OCCURED IN THE INDIAN TERRITORY THE MATTER IS KEPT SILENT BY BOTH THE CENTRE AND THE STATE AUTHORITY. Subsequently, the following day, i.e., 15th january, Pho Zaw (m) aged 23, sympathiser of BSO and his innocent wife Aye Myint Mar aged 19 was arrested by Military Security Affairs Forces (MSAF) from their residence at Tamu, Sagiang Division, Myanmar. Aye Myint Mar is in her full term pregnancy (8th month). Again, on 16th January, Ma Hnin Hnin (F) aged 24 wife of Chit Thein Tun and her 4 year old daughter Ei Po Po was arrested while visiting relatives at Yan Lem Phai village, Sagiang Division, Myanmar.

And also that, as the Myanmar Police and Military are known for gross violence of human rights with cruel, inhuman, degrading treatment and punishment to the prisoners and as torture and ill treatment in interrogation, particularly during incommunicado detention is common in Myanmar, I am deeply concerned about the condition and health of the six people who are still under arbitrary detention in the custody of the Myanmar authority, more in particular the two innocent women (in which one is 8th month pregnant) and the 4 year old child.

I therefore, draw the kind attention and requested to Honourable Prime Minister to intervene the situation and,

To, call on the state authorities to investigate the incident at Moreh, Manipur, India and see whether if there is any case of violation of the principle of non – refoulment, set out in Article 33 of the 1951 UN Convention relating to the status of Refugees and Article 3 of the UN Convention Against Torture, or if it is a security  negligence, and bring those found responsible to justice.

To, give proper security measure for the safety of the Burmese refugees taking asylum in India, so that such incident will not occur again in future.

To, remain the Myanmar Army and other authorities not to intrude in the Indian territory again.

To, make urgent enquiries with the Myanmar authority regarding the fate of Maung Maung Oo, Chit Thein Tun, Ma Hnin Hnin and Ei Po Po. And may kindly pursue them (myanmar Authority) to immediately return them to India and re – avail themselves of international protection, and release Pho zaw and Aye Myint Mar, all of which are subjected to arbitrary detention or imprisonment by the Myanmar authority.

Or pursue Myanmar authority to charged them with a recognizable criminal offence and in the interim be granted access to lawyers, family and medical care, particularly, special care for the pregnant lady and the child, and the ability to challenge the lawfulness of their detention before a civil court in accordance with international standards of fairness.

Yoursfaithfully                                                                                                         Bashan S W
Joint – Secretary
Peoples Rights Organisation
Manipur, India – 795001.

COPY TO :

Shivraj Patil – Union Minister of Home Affairs.

B. Ahemed – Minister of State for External Affairs.

Dr. S S Sidhu – Governor of Manipur.

Okram Ibobi – Chief Minister of Manipur.

K T Suresh - Director Amnesty International India.

Paulo Sergio Pinheiro – Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burma, UNHCHR.

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