[ALRC Press Release] BURMA: Regional group urges U.N. experts on torture case 05.01.

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Print This Article A Press Release by the Asian Legal Resource

Centre

BURMA: Regional group urges U.N.

experts on torture case
(Hong Kong, January 5, 2010) The Asian Legal
Resource Centre has urged a group of United Nations
human rights specialists "to operate to their fullest
possible capacity" in the interests of a young man
being tried in Burma's central prison, who has alleged
that he was severely tortured to confess to a crime
that he did not commit.

In a letter sent yesterday, January 4, the Hong Kong-

based regional rights group reminded a number of U.N.
independent experts that since August when the ALRC
sent a special dossier on the case of Phyo Wai Aung
and two others, his trial has continued and there has
been no manifest change or improvement in his
circumstances.

"We firmly believe that strong interventions from a

number of [U.N.] special procedures simultaneously
could have some effect, and at least alleviate the worst
features of imprisonment for this young man," the
group's director, Wong Kai Shing, said in the letter.

Phyo Wai Aung has been held in solitary confinement

and denied rights to exercise while in custody.

The ALRC addressed its letter to the Special

Rapporteurs on Myanmar (Burma), on torture, and on
the independence of judges and lawyers, in support of
continued efforts by the family of the detainee to
obtain a fair trial and also to be treated humanely
while in custody. It also sent copies to the Working
Group on arbitrary detention, and to the regional U.N.
human rights office in Bangkok.

Phyo Wai Aung's relatives and lawyer have been

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[ALRC Press Release] BURMA: Regional group urges U.N. experts on torture case 05.01.11 18:29

obstructed from attending the trial, and he has

reportedly been repeatedly abused in custody. He has
also said that he was savagely tortured for nine days
during interrogation, to have him confess to
involvement in a bombing last April.

The Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Tomas Ojea

Quintana, in his report of September 15 to the U.N.
General Assembly noted that, "During Phyo Wai Aung's
trial, which was held behind closed doors in Insein
prison, it is reported that he was not allowed to see his
case file and the confidentiality of his meetings with his
lawyers was reportedly breached by police."

Quintana emphasised to the government that the

prison authorities needed to comply with international
standards fore administration of justice, "including the
treatment of prisoners, role of lawyers, role of
prosecutors, independence of the judiciary and conduct
of law enforcement officials".

The sister organisation of the ALRC, the Asian Human

Rights Commission, has set up a special campaign page
for Phyo Wai Aung, at:
http://www.humanrights.asia/campaigns/phyo-wai-
aung/

###

About the ALRC: The Asian Legal Resource Centre is

an independent regional non-governmental
organisation holding general consultative status with
the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
It is the sister organisation of the Asian Human Rights
Commission. The Hong Kong-based group seeks to
strengthen and encourage positive action on legal and
human rights issues at the local and national levels
throughout Asia.

Posted on 2011-01-05
Back to [2011 AHRC Press Releases]

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