A leading human rights defender in Burma, U Myint Aye, was arrested on 30 September 2006 and is being detained in an unknown location without access to a lawyer. Three days prior to his arrest he issued a statement calling for the release of three student leaders who were involved in the 1988 pro-democracy uprising and pointed out human rights violations that had been committed.

U Myint Aye has a long history of promoting and defending human rights in Burma. He established the group’ Human Rights Defenders and Promoters’ and is the former Chairman of the National League for Democracy in Burma. U Myint Aye was arrested and detained on four previous occasions between 1998 and 2004. He actively participated in the 1988 pro-democracy uprising as well as the U Thant affair in 1974.

Front Line is deeply concerned for his safety and believes his detention is directly related to his work in promoting and defending human rights in Burma. Front Line urges the authorities to grant his immediate and unconditional release, take measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of U Myint Aye while in detention and ensure his freedom from ill-treatment and torture, as provided for in Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Furthermore, Front Line calls on the Burmese authorities to investigate the alleged detention of human rights defenders, Ko Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, and Ko Htay Kywe, and ensure their treatment whilst in custody adheres to Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.