November 19, 1999

To
Secretary-General Kofi Annan
United Nations Organization
38th Floor, UN Secretariat
NY, NY 10017,
USA

Reference:
Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF)
Monland, Burma

Subject:
Submitting an objection for unlawfully arresting Mon leader Nai Tun
Thein, 82, chairman of MNDF

Dear Sir,
We submit an objection for unlawful arresting Mon leader Nai Tun Thein
who is chairman of MNDF and other political leaders by the State Peace
and Development Council (SPDC, government of Myanmar).

After the pro-democracy uprising of Burma in 1988, according to the
General Multi-party Election Commission's laws, activists formed their
political parties including MNDF which is led by Nai Tun Thein. MNDF
and other ethnic parties had participated in the first general
multi-party election on May 27, 1990 peacefully together with National
League for Democracy (NLD) which is led by Aung San Suu Kyi. On the
general election Nai Tun Thein won his seat legitimately in
Thanpyuzayat Township, Mon State, Burma.

Unfortunately, on November 3, 1999, the military government of Myanmar
arrested leaders of two allied ethnic parties, Kyin Shin Htan, chairman
of Zomi National Congress and Nai Tun Thein, Mon political leader, who
took part in talks with Assistant UN Secretary-General Alvaro De Soto
last month aimed at breaking the country's political deadlock. They
were arrested for the second time in two years. No reason was given
for their detention and they should be immediately released without
conditions. It is very narrow-minded to unlawfully arrest the leaders
of the nationalities. The political, economic and social problems
being faced in the country will not be resolved by arrests. We feel
that unlawful arrest was not only a great breach of human rights but
also destructive to society.

Therefore, we strongly object to this wicked deed and we demand the
Burmese military government release them. We request the UN pressure
the Burmese military government (SPDC) to release Nai Tun Thein and
other political activists immediately. We thank for your earliest
cooperation.

With Respectfully,
Mon National Students Organization (MNSO) Monland
Overseas Mon National Students Organization of North America (OMNSO)
Overseas Mon National Students Organization, Vancouver, Canada
Overseas Mon National Students Organization (OMNSO), Thailand
Overseas Mon National Students Organization (OMNSO), Australia
Mon Community of Canada (MCC) Vancouver, Canada
Mon Culture Society (MCS) Calgary, Canada
Mon Canadian Association, Toronto, Canada
Monland restoration Council (MRC), USA
Australian Mon Association (AMA), Australia