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MYANMAR Parliamentarians reportedly still serving their sentence:
CASE N° MYN/01 - OHN KYAING
CASE N° MYN/04 - KHIN MAUNG SWE
CASE N° MYN/09 - SEIN HLA OO
CASE N° MYN/13 - NAING NAING
CASE N° MYN/24 - SOE MYINT
CASE N° MYN/60 - ZAW MYINT MAUNG
CASE N° MYN/80 - KYAW SAN
CASE N° MYN/104 - KYAW KHIN
CASE N° MYN/118 - THAN NYEIN
CASE N° MYN/119 - MAY WIN MYINT
CASE N° MYN/124 - OHN MAUNG
CASE N° MYN/133 - YAW HIS
CASE N° MYN/138 - TOE PO
CASE N° MYN/209 - WIN MYINT AUNG
CASE N° MYN/215 - AUNG SOE MYINT
CASE N° MYN/234 - THAN HTAY
CASE N° MYN/235 - AUNG KYIN

Parliamentarians who died in custody:
CASE N° MYN/53 - HLA THAN
CASE N° MYN/55 - TIN MAUNG WIN
CASE N° MYN/72 - SAW WIN
CASE N° MYN/83 - KYAW MIN
CASE N° MYN/131 - HLA KHIN
CASE N° MYN/132 - AUNG MIN

Parliamentarians who were assassinated:
CASE N° MYN/66 - WIN KO CASE N° MYN/67 - HLA PE
Resolution adopted unanimously by the Governing Council
at its 175th session (Geneva, 1st October 2004)


The Governing 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/175/11(a)-R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 174th session (April 2004),

Taking note of a communication from the Thai Inter-Parliamentary Group dated 16 July 2004 regarding the case of MP-elect Hla Pe, stating that the case of his murder was closed in 1994 because the culprit had not been found after a full year of investigation,

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

Considering that, according to reports from the source, the Myanmar military government continues to subject MPs-elect to arbitrary measures; thus, while MPs-elect Min Soe Lin and Min Kyi Win were released on 4 June 2004, MPs-elect U Than Htay and U Aung Kyin were arrested on 16 and 18 August 2004 after they reportedly refused to give in to pressure by the authorities to renounce their positions as MPs-elect; that the authorities announced that MP-elect Sai Tun Aung had decided to give up his seat, which he reportedly did against his will; that for the same purpose pressure is reportedly also being put on MPs-elect U Myint Thein, U San Hla Baw, Daw Hla Hla Moe and U Maung Kywin Aung,

Considering that the health of MPs-elect U Ohn Kyaing, U Sein Hla Oo and U Khin Maung Swe has reportedly seriously deteriorated in detention and that without proper medical treatment their lives are at risk; that MPs-elect Than Nyein and Dr. May Win Myint, who remain in prison although they have already served their sentences, are also suffering from serious health problems,

Recalling that, on 30 August 2003, General Khin Nyunt announced a "road map" for Myanmar's future, which as a first step included the reconvening on 17 May 2004 of the National Convention on the basis of the same detailed blueprint for a unitary, military-dominated State which had guided the Convention when it was first set up in 1993; that, according to the source, Order 5/96, which penalises any criticism of the National Convention, is still in force; that the NLD decided not to participate and to make its participation conditional on the fulfilment of five minimum requirements to ensure a democratic and inclusive progress which respects basic human rights, none of which have been met; noting that the National Convention was adjourned on 9 July 2004,

Considering that the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, in his interim report of 30 August 2004, stated that "the concerns regarding the National Convention process that he expressed in his last report to the Commission have not been addressed and that the necessary steps to ensure minimum democratic conditions for the reconvening of the National Convention have not been taken",

Considering that the United Nations Secretary-General, in his report dated 16 August 2004, calls on the countries in the region, and especially the member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to take a leading role in counselling the State Peace and Development Council to take steps inter alia to lift, as a matter of priority, the remaining restrictions on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, to commence a substantive dialogue with her and her party immediately and to take the necessary steps to ensure that the National Convention process is all-inclusive and open,

Considering that the informal consultative group on Myanmar, comprised of 22 countries, will meet shortly at United Nations Headquarters; that the European Union has discussed the question of Myanmar's participation in the Asia-Europe (ASEM) meeting scheduled for 8–9 October in Hanoi, Vietnam, and has reportedly made it a condition that the Myanmar authorities release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Tin Oo before 8 October 2004,

  1. Reaffirms its conviction that the National Convention, in its present form, is designed to prolong and legitimise military rule against the will of the people as expressed in the 1990 elections, and that any transition towards democracy will fail so long as it is not genuinely free, transparent and reflective of the people’s will, and preceded by the unconditional release of all political prisoners and the lifting of all restrictions on human rights and political activity;

  2. Is deeply disturbed to learn that MPs-elect are being forced to give up their parliamentary status, thereby lending further weight to concerns that at present there is no scope for any genuine democratic procedure and debate; urges the authorities to refrain forthwith from such unlawful practices;

  3. Is deeply concerned at the lack of progress towards the release of all MPs-elect and that MPs-elect are kept in detention although they have already served their sentences; forcefully urges once again the authorities to release all detained MPs-elect forthwith, starting with those five whose health is highly precarious and those who have already served their sentences;

  4. Remains convinced that stronger and more concerted action by members of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, in particular those from the region, is required to press for the respect of democratic principles in Myanmar;

  5. Requests the Secretary General to ask all IPU members to provide feedback on action taken to this end and to compile this information and make it available to its members on the occasion of the 112th IPU Assembly (April 2005);

  6. Affirms that the IPU stands ready to assist the Myanmar authorities in any genuine pursuit of reconciliation and the establishment of democratic structures, should they desire such assistance;

  7. Requests the Committee to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session, to be held on the occasion of the 112th Assembly.

Note: you can download a complete electronic version of the brochure "Results of the 111th IPU Assembly and related meetings in PDF format (file size 520K approximately ). This version requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download free of charge.Get Acrobat Reader

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