AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

SOUTHEAST ASIA REGIONAL ACTION NETWORK

March 2011
COUNTRY NEWS

Indonesia, 2 Singapore, 5

Myanmar, 1, 3 Thailand, 5

Philippines, 4 Vietnam, 5

Take Action in April

Myanmar, Unlock the Prison Doors!

Just a few weeks ago, Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi riveted an
audience of Amnesty activists, addressing them by phone at our 50th anniversary
conference in San Francisco. Speaking about the important role grassroots activism
played in her release in November, she encouraged us to keep fighting for the
more than 2,200 political prisoners still imprisoned in Myanmar today.

We'll be delivering this message to the Myanmar embassy personally during our annual
Get on the Bus event in Washington, DC on April 15th. That's when hundreds of
Amnesty activists pack into buses, trains, or carpools to take peaceful action at
embassies and consulates in support of human rights.
We'll come armed with special keys – made out of paper by
passionate supporters like you, but powerful enough to set
prisoners of conscience in Myanmar free. Send your paper
Keys to Freedom by April 11th so we can deliver them to the Myanmar
embassy.

Concord, MA Group 15 – Way to Take Action!

The Prometheus Project for Vietnamese Prisoners of Conscience

In partnership with Amnesty International, the American Repertory

Theater of Cambridge, MA has dedicated the rock opera Prometheus
Bound to eight Amnesty actions to free prisoners of conscience. This
world premiere production was staged at the OBERON in Cambridge, a

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small, round theater space where the action takes place in and around the audience. The
show opened in February and is running through April 2nd.

As the final act of each production, an actor reads a description of one of the eight
Amnesty cases and urges the audience to sign the postcard appeals being distributed by
Amnesty activists and other volunteers.

The shows on March 17, 21, and 22 were dedicated to the case of the imprisoned
Vietnamese labor activists Doan Van Dien, Doan Huy Chuong, and Tran Quoc
Hien. On the third night, the stock of postcards ran out and people were double-signing
postcards that other people had already signed. Such was the inspiration and
enthusiasm evoked by the show.

Prometheus Bound, based on the Ancient Greek tragedy by Aeschylus, presents the
story of Prometheus as the heroic struggle of Western civilization's first prisoner of
conscience. Prometheus Bound was written by Tony and Grammy Award-winning
playwright and lyricist Steven Sater. The music was composed by Grammy Award-
winning System of a Down lead singer Serj Tankian.

Click for more information.

Update: Indonesia

New Actions to Take Now

Filep Karma has recently been transferred back to the Abepura Prison after spending
several months, without charges, in a local police jail.

Activists are asked to send messages of support to Filep Karma during the month of
April. These messages not only tell him that the world
continues to be outraged by his case, but also remind prison
officials that we care about Filep’s treatment.

He would especially appreciate your words of solidarity on

Easter (April 24) - Filep is Christian, such holiday greetings
are appropriate and welcomed.

Please send a message of hope to:

Filep Karma
Melalui Cyntia Warwe
KONTRAS PAPUA
Jl. Raya Sentani No. 67 B.
Depan Ojek Padang Bulan
Jayapura – Papua - Indonesia

March 2011 SEA RAN Newsletter 2

Urgent Action

The Ahmadiyya community, a religious minority in Indonesia, is facing increasing

restrictions, intimidation and attacks because of their beliefs. Please send appeals
before April 27th calling on Indonesian authorities to:

• Conduct prompt, independent and impartial investigations into all reports of

intimidation and attacks against the Ahmadiyya and bring the perpetrators to
justice in accordance with international fair trial standards;
• Investigate reports that the military in West Java province have been involved in
the intimidation of the Ahmadiyya followers and forced them to renounce their
faith
• Take immediate steps to review and repeal all laws and regulations that restrict
the right to freedom of religion as guaranteed in Article 18 of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR);
• Publicly condemn statements inciting violence against the Ahmadiyya and take
steps to ensure that all religious minorities are protected and allowed to practice
their faith free from fear, intimidation and attack.

Click to take action!

Update: Myanmar

Amnesty News:
In a March 11th Amnesty International released a public statement: “No International
Compromise on Human Rights in Myanmar.” The statement reads, in part:

As the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar presents his
report to the 16th session of United Nations Human Rights Council, governments
should speak with one voice on Myanmar’s long-standing failure to address
widespread and systematic human rights violations in the country. While a new
administration has been appointed following elections, not only has the human
rights situation in Myanmar not improved, it shows no signs of changing in the
foreseeable future. Nearly 2,200 political prisoners remain behind bars, most of
whom are prisoners of conscience, imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of
their rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly. Censorship and
other serious restrictions on freedom of expression remain, and violations of
international human rights and humanitarian law against ethnic minorities -
including acts against the civilian population which constitute crimes against
humanity - continue.

Click to read the full statement.

In the News:
• Dozens of Arakan nationals living in Rangoon were arrested and some
were severely tortured by police after last month's bomb blast in Aung Zeya

March 2011 SEA RAN Newsletter 3

housing complex in Insein Township, according to sources in the city.

During the Feb. 27 attack which injured eight people, the

suspected bomb carrier was also seriously hurt. When police
officers searched his home, a roommate-also an Arakan
national-fled the scene. This led to the indiscriminate arrest
of around 100 Arakan nationals living in Insein, Hlaing
Thayar and other townships around Rangoon, according to
an official from the Arakan Youth Association (The
Irrawaddy).

• The Burmese army's use of the infamous "four-cuts"

strategy and military build-up are driving many villagers in
southern Shan State from their homes and landing them
among the country's many "internally displaced persons," Click to read this new
observers said. report from Human
Rights Watch
The "Four Cuts" strategy means cutting off access to food,
funds, information, and recruitment, often with devastating consequences. The Burmese
military's use of this strategy has forced the relocation of the residents of villages
located in the area controlled by the Shan State Army-South (SSA-South)
Brigade 1, based in Mong Hsnu Township, and SSA-South Brigade 7, based in Kunhing
Township.

Many villagers from Kunhing Township left for the border to find safer and better places
to live, according to a member of the Shan Nationalities Development Party from
Kunhing Township. "Transportation vehicles are full of passengers because many locals
headed to the border. At least 200 to 300 people left their native land," he said. In
addition, the construction of a new regional command by the Burmese military has
forced the residents of villages in Kyethe, Kali and Namsam townships to relocate (The
Irrawaddy).

Update: Philippines

In the News:
President Benigno Aquino 3rd has ratified and endorsed the Rome Statute of the
International Criminal Court (ICC) to the Senate. Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.
over the weekend said that President Aquino signed the Instrument of Ratification of the
treaty on February 28.

The ratification of and recommendation of the Rome Statute to the Senate is in view of
the visit of ICC President Sang-Hyun Song from March 7 to 8 to the Philippines.
“Ratification of the Rome Statute enhances Philippine commitment to human rights and
is our contribution to an effective international criminal justice system,” Ochoa said in a
statement. “It complements Republic Act 9851, which enables our country on its own to

March 2011 SEA RAN Newsletter 4

prosecute international crimes and strengthens human rights’ enforcement in our
country,” he added.

Update: Singapore

Amnesty News:
Singapore's very poor human rights record is to be discussed at
the UN Human Rights Council on May 6 and AI and other NGOs (in
and outside Singapore) has sent their submissions to the UN's
UPR Working Group. It is a process whereby the human rights
situation of each Member State of the UN is debated by the
UNHRC in turn every four years (48 each year).

Update: Thailand Click to read AI’s report.

By our Country Specialist on the ground, Tyrell Haberkorn

AIUSA Thailand country specialist Tyrell Haberkorn observed the final days of Chiranuch
Premchaiporn's trial held in early February 2011. At this stage, only 5 out of 24 total
witnesses have given testimony. On 11 February 2011, her trial was postponed;
hearings will resume in September 2011. While Chiranuch's case has been closely
followed by human rights and free speech advocates, there are many other similar cases
which are passing through the Thai judicial system unnoticed. Close attention to these
cases is necessary, as they seem to be emerging as a barometer of the broader political
context, human rights situation, and status of free speech.

Update: Vietnam

By our Vietnam Country Specialist, Jean Libby

Father Ly was due to be returned to prison on March 15th. However, at this point,
security forces have surrounded the retired priests’ home in Hue so no one can enter of
leave with scrutiny. Recent letters on the case have been sent to the Vietnamese
government by a number of U.S. Senators led by Barbara Boxer, as well as Amnesty
International and other human rights organizations.

Father Ly has responded with thanks to the international community and sent notice to
the United Nations announcing that he is a free citizen (March 24). H thanked them for
the resolution stating that the Vietnamese government behaved contrary to international
treaties they have signed.

This is Father Ly's genius. He sets his own terms. There is a movement for peaceful
demonstrations that are focusing on the elections of May, 2011. He is one of the leaders
of this movement. He recommends wearing white on the 1st and 15th of each month,

March 2011 SEA RAN Newsletter 5

as a signal, and gradual demonstrations without announcement. He also suggests
fasting or light meals, vegetarian only, on these days. The Hua Hua Buddhists, a much
persecuted-and imprisoned religious group within Viet Nam, are allied with him in this
campaign.

My opinion: the Vietnamese government will keep him isolated but not re-imprison him
before the elections, which Father Ly is calling for people to boycott because there is
only one political party allowed to run candidates. His email is regularly compromised --
I am receiving from different addresses than previous, usually associated with Catholic
organizations and in Vietnamese.

Meet your amazing and dedicated team of Country Specialists:

Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia Jeanne Marie Stumpf anthropologyisfun@yahoo.com

Indonesia Max White (and Timor-Leste, max33@comcast.net

Papua New Guinea)
isgartini@yahoo.com
Gartini Isa
carole_marzolf@yahoo.com
Carole Marzolf

Laos, Thailand Tyrell Haberkorn tyrellcaroline@gmail.com

Myanmar Jim Roberts jroberts@aiusacs.org

Nancy Galib

Anil Raj

Philippines Perfecto Boyet-Caparas perfecto.caparas@gmail.com

Vietnam Jean Libby editor@vietamreview.net

Co-Group and RAN Coordinator, Claudia Vandermade claudiev@gmail.com

Newsletter editor

Have a question about AI’s work in a particular country? Wondering how to take your
country work a step further? Contact a Country Specialist, or the Co-Group Coordinator,
Claudia Vandermade.

Stay up-to-date on a daily basis by joining our Facebook page: Amnesty International
USA Southeast Asia Action Network.

March 2011 SEA RAN Newsletter 6