UPDATE ON URGENT APPEAL UPDATE ON URGENT APPEAL UPDATE ON URGENT APPEAL

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAM

Update on Urgent Appeal
28 September 2004

(UA-112-2004: BURMA: Complaints against forced labour blocked and victims punished; UP-50-2004: BURMA: Another complaint registered against local authorities in Henzada Township)
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UP-51-2004: BURMA: Henzada Township court throws out forced labour complaints

BURMA: Forced labour; impunity; judicial partiality; misuse of authority
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received news from the Yoma-3 news service that the Henzada Township Court has thrown out the forced labour cases brought against local government officials by villagers there.

Three villagers had brought two separate complaints of forced labour against the Kanyinngu Village Tract Peace and Development Council, as outlined in one earlier Urgent Appeal (UA-112-2004) and Update (UP-50-2004).

According to the latest information, the Henzada Township Court threw out the case brought by U Mya Sein on September 22. It earlier threw out the case brought by U Ohn Myint and U Khin Zaw on August 27. U Ohn Myint and U Khin Zaw are now facing counter legal action by the local authorities, which have accused the villagers of defaming them. The court will make a decision on the criminal defamation case on September 30.

The AHRC urges you to write to again write the relevant authorities to protest the maltreatment of legitimate complainants in cases of forced labour in Burma. Please see the suggested letters and contact details in the earlier appeal and update.

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)