Nine Shan Leaders including Hkun Htun Oo were arrested and sentenced to imprisonment on 21 February, 2005 by the SPDC (Dictatorship Regime). They were accused of treason to the country and several other charges. The Burma Lawyers’ Council have analyzed the charges and the court proceedings and determined that that there was no basis for the charges and no substantial evidence presented in court to prove the charges. Several appeals for their release in court have been turned down. In a few days’ time, the high court will consider the special appeal. This seems to be the last stage of the appeal before the final decision is made.

According to Burma Lawyers’ Council based in Thailand, without any concrete proof, the Shan Leaders can be released upon the pressure and encouragement put on the SPDC from the UN and International Governments. This will be able to overturn the unlawful imprisonment of those who are innocent of the crimes, convicted without any evidence in reality.

Therefore, on 26 April 2007, Shan National for Democracy (Japan) in cooperation with the Burma Lawyers’ Council launched a petition campaign to get signatures from people in Japan to support calls for the release of Hkun Htun Oo and the Shan Leaders.  The campaign was organized at the east entrance of Shinnagawa Railway Station in Tokyo from 10:15 A.M to 6:00 P.M.

Those involved in the petition campaign were wearing Shan Suit, holding Shan Flag and photographs of Hkun Htun Oo and other Shan Leaders, handing out leaflets describing the biography of Hkun Htun Oo and the other Shan Leaders. 123 signatures were collected from Japanese people.

This petition campaign had been launched by Shan National for Democracy headed by the Chairman Sai Nyunt Maung to cooperate with the Burma Lawyers’ Council that took the lead in considering the legal side of the Shan Leaders case.

SND Secretaries Sai Si Wan and Sai Shwe Lu said that they were satisfied that they had the opportunity to tell the Japanese people about the oppression and injustice forced upon the other Nationalities in Burma by the SPDC. Also the Japanese who signed for the release of the Shan Leaders as well as those who did not sign were very shocked upon learning of the injustice practiced by the SPDC.

This campaign is said to have been launched not just for the Shan Leaders but also for Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo and other political prisoners. The currently collected signatures together with those collected at various places will be sent to the Japanese Government and those responsible to put pressure on the SPDC. The SND members have made an appeal to the general public internationally to continue the petition campaign vigorously for the release of Hkun Htun Oo and all the political prisoners in Burma.

Our readers can contact the Burma Lawyers’ Council at blcsan@ksc.th.com for the details of their Statement and Legal Analysis regarding the Unjust Convictions of nine Shan Ethnic Leaders including General Hso Ten, U Hkun Htun Oo and U Sai Nyunt Lwin.

To cooperate with the campaign internationally for Hkun Htun Oo and these Shan Leaders, please contact –

E-Mail :

sndjapan2003@yahoo.com

Website:

http://www.geocities.com/free_hkunhtunoo/

E.mail: aunghtoo@csloxinfo.com

www.tai-nation.org

www.tai4freedom.info

BLC Website: www.blc-burma.org.