The Joint Statement of Overseas Mon Organizations
Regarding to the arrest of Nai Tun Thein and Kyin Shin Htan

Nai Tun Thein, 82, former Chairman of the Mon National Democratic Front
(MNDF) and Kyin Shin Htan, Chairman of the Zomi National Congress, were
unlawfully arrested by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) on
November 3, 1999 after meeting with Assistant United Nation
secretary-general Alvaro De Soto, who went to Burma with the approval of
SPDC, to try to promote dialogue between the ruling generals and the
oppositions parties in Rangoon last month. This clearly shows SPDC try to
create a good image of itself in the international community without
sincerity behind it.

Nai Tun Thein, who devotes his whole life for the Mon people, is the
principle founder of the MNDF. He led MNDF as party chairman in the1990
General Election, and was unanimously elected as an MP from the
Thanphyuzayat Constituency No2. However his party was annulled by the then
SLORC in March 19, 1992. In 1993, Nai Tun Thein, Vice Chairman Nai Ngwe
Thein, and other senior central MNDF committee members were arrested and
subsequently imprisoned in The Moulmein Jail. In 1998, he, along with Nai
Ngwe Thein, two others MNDF official MPs, Dr. Min Soe Lin, the elected MP
from Ye township, General-Secretary of the MNDF, and Dr. Min Kyi Win, MP and
Joint-General Secretary to the party, were charged under the Emergency
Provision Act for their roles in supporting the Committee Representing
People’s Parliament (CRPP), called by NLD. Later on he was released because
of his old age and ailing health but his political colleagues to this very
day languish in Moulmein jail.

The unlawful detention of Nai Tun Thein and Kyin Shin Htan without a good
legitimate reason clearly points to the fact that the SPDC has violated
basic human rights and have no intention of establishing genuine democratic
system in Burma. Since his arrest, Nai Tun Thein have lost contact with his
family members and close friends and to make things worst no one knows his
whereabouts in the country. His family members and the Mon community in
general are extremely concerned for his well being because of his old age
and poor health. There is also a wider concern in the ill treatment of all
political opponents by SPDC.

We also strongly believe it is a blatant violation of basic human rights on
the part of SPDC to unlawfully arrest Mon leaders and political opponents (
Mon and non-Mons) without legal representation in the court of law. Time
and again SLORC SPDC fail to appreciate the fact Burma’s economic, social,
political and ethnic problems cannot be solved by arrest imprisonment and
threat. The deep seated problems facing the nation can only be solved by
good will and genuine, constructive dialogue between political antagonists.

We strongly urge:

? The military regime to immediately and unconditionally release Nai
Tun Thein and Kyin Shin Htan and all political prisoners.

? The International Human Rights Organization and democratic
community to strongly condemn and take immediate strong action against
Burmese Military Regime of Rangoon.

Mon National Democratic Front (Australia)
Overseas Mon National Students Organization of North America (OMNSO)
Monland Restoration Council (USA)
Overseas Mon National Students Organization (Australia)
Overseas Mon Young Monk Union (Thailand)
Mon National Organization of Canada
Mon Canadian Association

November 24, 1999

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