No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest Article 9, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

MYANMAR: Dr. Tun Aung

It was tense in the western Myanmar town of Maungdaw, Rakhine State on 8 June 2012. Relations between the towns communities the Rakhine Buddhists and the Rohingya Muslims were deteriorating rapidly. Each group suspected that the other group had killed some of their people. The police expected violence so they called on a respected medical doctor in the community to help them keep peace. His name is Dr. Tun Aung. Rioting did start, and it was violent. People present say that Dr. Tun Aung actively tried to calm the crowd. He tried to tell them that the government was setting up an investigation into the killing of the Muslims. But the crowd of thousands, mostly Rohingya Muslims, was out of control and many were not prepared to listen. When Rakhine (pronounced ra-hine) Buddhists hurled threats at him, he and his family felt nervous. They accepted an offer of a drive home from an immigration official but instead, the official took them to immigration headquarters. Officials there released his family within hours but held Dr. Tun Aung. They were likely looking for someone to blame after the violence ended. For several weeks no one knew where he was. His family finally learned that he was in Rakhine states Sittwe prison, 170km from his hometown of Maungdaw. The 65-year-old grandfather is still there today. The distance makes it very difficult for his family to travel for the 20-minute prison visit they are sometimes allowed. It is also a challenge for them to provide him with medicine and food to supplement the inadequate prison diet. Legal representation was inadequate at Dr. Tun Aungs trial. He first received a prison sentence of 11 years but the prosecution appealed and the sentence is now 17 years. Dr. Tun Aung suffers from a pituitary tumour for which he may not be receiving the medication and medical attention required to manage this condition.

Amnesty International has determined that Dr. Tun Aung is a prisoner of conscience, targeted because he is a Muslim community leader. Private

Activate your pens and your keyboards! Please send a letter or fax to the president. Start with Your Excellency. Describe who you are and what concerns you about the continued detention of Dr. Tun Aung. Insist on his release, since he is a prisoner of conscience who has not committed, nor promoted, any violence. Until he is free, you could ask for proper care for his pituitary tumour. You could also request his transfer to Insein prison so that he is able to have regular family visits. Send your letter to President Thein Sein Nay Pyi Taw Republic of the Union of Myanmar Postage: $1.85 Email via online contact form: www.president-office.gov.mm/contact Please send a copy to His Excellency Hau Do Suan Ambassador for Myanmar 336 Island Park Drive Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 0A7 Postage: $.63 Fax: (613) 232-6999

What else can I do? Send a greeting to Dr Tun Aungs family. They may be able to share it with him in the future. Mail it to
Dr Tun Aungs family Amnesty International 3-1992 Yonge Street Toronto ON M4S 1Z7 Apart from religious cards, any card is fine. You may mention Amnesty International.

Or you could post a video or photo with your message of support on Dr Tun Aungs tumblr page where his family will see it: myanmar-w4r.tumblr.com. Tell them who you are, where you are writing from, and what action you have taken for Dr Tun Aung.

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