Inter-Parliamentary Union
		Place du Petit-Saconnex, P.O. Box 438, 1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland

The Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Referring to the outline of the case of the above-mentioned members-elect of the Pyithu Hluttaw (People's Assembly) of the Union of Myanmar, as contained in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/171/12(a)-R.1), and to the relevant resolution adopted at its 170th session (March 2002),

Recalling that not only have the election results of 27 May 1990, in which the National League for Democracy (NLD) won 392 of the 485 seats, not been implemented, but many MPs-elect have been eliminated from the political process through arbitrary means, including their arbitrary arrest, detention and sentencing under laws infringing basic international human rights standards,

Recalling also that the talks started in October 2000 between the military regime and the NLD leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, have led to the release of several MPs-elect and to the easing of some of the constraints on the operation of legal political parties, permitting the reopening of selected NLD branch offices and a halt to the media campaign against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,

Noting that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest on 5 May 2002 and is reportedly free to engage in political activities; noting also that on 14 May 2002, nine more NLD supporters were released from prison and that, on 21 June 2002, the authorities announced that Mr. Saw Oo Reh had been released from prison on humanitarian grounds, thereby bringing the number of imprisoned MPs-elect down to 18,

Noting that, according to information provided by one of the sources on 20 August 2002, the health of Dr. Than Nyein, one of the imprisoned MPs-elect, was seriously deteriorating owing to liver and heart problems, high blood pressure and stomach pain, and to the delay in performing the necessary operation; after that operation the doctors reportedly informed his family that he was suffering from gastro-enteritis; on 3 September 2002, the source stated that two other imprisoned MPs-elect, Mr. Ohn Maung and Mr. Sein Hla Oo, had suffered serious health impairment owing to liver cirrhosis and to heart problems, respectively,

Recalling in this connection that sources have reported conditions of detention in Myanmar to be harsh and to include cruel disciplinary practices and torture, lack of proper medical care and insufficient food; recalling that MP-elect Aung Min died on 24 October 1998 while in custody at a "guest house" and that, on 31 May 1999, MP-elect Hla Khin died in custody, as did MPs-elect Tin Maung Win, Hla Tan and Saw Win in January 1991, August 1996 and August 1998, respectively,

Bearing in mind the fact that the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, in its resolution 2002/67 (April 2002), while welcoming the easing of certain constraints on the political opposition, expressed grave concern at "the persistence of a government policy based on the repression of all political activities of opposition", and strongly urged the Government of Myanmar "to release immediately and unconditionally those detained or imprisoned for political reasons"; noting also that, in his report to the Commission, the United Nations Secretary-General similarly urged the Government of the Union of Myanmar "to find quickly an appropriate way to release all remaining political prisoners, especially those members of Parliament elected in 1990",

Recalling that several on-site missions to Myanmar have been carried out since the start of the aforesaid talks by, among others, the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General, the United Nations Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights for Myanmar, the International Labour Organization, the European Union troika and the International Committee of the Red Cross,

1. Notes the release of the MP-elect Saw Oo Reh; nevertheless expresses deep concern at the slow progress towards the release of the 18 MPs-elect who are still in prison, particularly in view of the reported deteriorating health of three of them, Dr. Than Nyein, Mr. Ohn Maung and Mr. Sein Hla Oo as a result of the harsh prison conditions;

2. Reaffirms its conviction that the 18 MPs-elect were sentenced on account of having peacefully exercised their freedom of assembly, association and expression; strongly urges the authorities to release them forthwith unconditionally and, as a matter of priority, the three who are in poor health;

3. Reaffirms that restoration of the rule of law and human rights further requires a complete removal of the ban on political activities, the establishment of institutions representative of the people's will, and a full investigation of the cases of the MPs-elect who died while imprisoned;

4. Notes with concern in this respect that the talks between the military regime and the NLD have yielded no tangible results;

5. Continues therefore to believe that an on-site mission would contribute to a satisfactory settlement of this case; reiterates its request to carry out such a mission, and requests the Secretary General to take the necessary steps with a view to organising it;

6. Again calls on all Members of the Inter-Parliamentary Union to press for the respect of democratic principles in Myanmar and to show their solidarity with their elected colleagues from the Pyithu Hluttaw by whatever means they deem appropriate, including support for the Committee Representing the People's Parliament established in 1998; would welcome feedback from member Parliaments on any action they may have taken to this end;

7. Requests the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session (April 2003).

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