E thnic Nationalities O rganisation

Burma and Northeast India

Incorporated in Victoria * * *
ABN: 63509847755

Mr. Yves Daccord Director-General International Committee of the Red Cross 19 Avenue de la Paix CH 1202, Geneva Swiss Confederation 1st October, 2011 Dear Mr Daccord,

10 Konrads Court, Truganina Melbourne, Victoria 3029

AUSTRALIA

Tel: +61 3 93699220; Mob: +61 413693311 Email: wildbee7@myacn.net.au

I am writing to you as President of the Ethnic Nationalities Organisation: Burma and Northeast India, an organisation that represents and works on behalf of the many ethnic communities from Burma who live in Australia. On behalf of the Ethnic Nationalities Organisation (ENO), I would like to raise the concern felt amongst the communities we represent regarding the reported arrest and detention by the Burmese government of Mr Mahn Nyein Maung, a leading member of the Karen National Union (KNU) and a Central Committee Member of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC). It is the belief of Ethnic Nationalities Organisation that Mr Mahn Nyein Maung is entitled to Prisoner of War status under Part I Article 4 (2) of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of August 12, 1949 (Geneva Convention III), to which the country of Burma is a party. The Ethnic Nationalities Organisation calls upon the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to undertake the following courses of action in relation to the detention of Mr Mahn Nyein Maung: 1. 2. 3. CalluponthegovernmentofBurmatoconfirmitsdetentionofMrMahnNyeinMaung. Call upon the government of Burma to provide details concerning the location of Mr Mahn Nyein Maungs detentionandtheconditionsunderwhichheisbeingheld. Demand that the government of Burma as a party to the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of PrisonersofWarofAugust12,1949(GenevaConventionIII)recogniseandtreatMrMahnNyeinMaungasa PrisonerofWarwithalltherightsandprotectionsduetothisstatus. Request immediate access by representatives of the ICRC to confirm that the detention of Mr Mahn Nyein Maungconformstobasicstandardsofhumanrightsandinternationallawconcerningprisonersofwar.

4.

Given that the government of Burma and its security forces are routinely accused of human rights abuses including torture and extra-judicial killings, the Ethnic Nationalities Organisation believes that it is essential that the International Committee of the Red Cross commit to undertaking these actions. The Ethnic Nationalities Organisation also believes that the detention of Mr Mahn Nyein Maung provides an important opportunity for the International Committee of the Red Cross to demonstrate its relevance to the peoples and organisations that are party to the civil war in Burma. A failure by the International Committee of the Red Cross to act in this matter would be a dramatic and very public failure to undertake one of the organisations most basic reasons for existence, namely ensuring the humane treatment of prisoners of war and detainees. It is the hope and expectation of the Ethnic Nationalities Organisation that the International Committee of the Red Cross will not fail to fulfil the purpose of its existence and act to ensure that Mr Mahn Nyein Maung is treated humanely and according to international law. Yours sincerely,

Saw A Ganemy Kunoo President Ethnic Nationalities Organisation Burma and Northeast India

E thnic Nationalities O rganisation

Burma and Northeast India
Incorporated in Victoria * * *
ABN: 63509847755

Mr Salil Shetty Secretary General Amnesty International 1 Easton Street, London WC1X 0DW United Kingdom 1st October, 2011 Dear Mr Shetty,

10 Konrads Court, Truganina Melbourne, Victoria 3029

AUSTRALIA

Tel: +61 3 93699220; Mob: +61 413693311 Email: wildbee7@myacn.net.au

I am writing to you as President of the Ethnic Nationalities Organisation: Burma and Northeast India, an organisation that represents and works on behalf of the many ethnic communities from Burma who live in Australia. On behalf of the Ethnic Nationalities Organisation (ENO), I would like to raise the concern felt amongst the communities we represent regarding the reported arrest and detention by the Burmese government of Mr Mahn Nyein Maung, a leading member of the Karen National Union (KNU) and a central committee member of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC). It is the belief of Ethnic Nationalities Organisation that Mr Mahn Nyein MaungisentitledtoPrisonerofWarstatus under Part I Article 4 (2) of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of August 12, 1949 (Geneva Convention III), to which the country of Burma is a party. The Ethnic Nationalities Organisation calls upon Amnesty International to undertake the following courses of action in relation to the detention of Mr Mahn Nyein Maung: 1. 2. 3. CalluponthegovernmentofBurmatoconfirmitsdetentionofMrMahnNyeinMaung. Calluponthegovernment ofBurma toprovidedetailsconcerningthelocationofMrMahnNyeinMaungs detentionandtheconditionsunderwhichheisbeingheld. Demand that the government of Burma as a party to the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of PrisonersofWarofAugust12,1949(GenevaConventionIII)recogniseandtreatMrMahnNyeinMaungasa PrisonerofWarwithalltherightsandprotectionsduetothisstatus. Request immediate access by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross to confirm thatthedetentionofMrMahnNyeinMaungconformstobasicstandardsofhumanrightsandinternational lawconcerningprisonersofwar.

4.

Given that the government of Burma and its security forces are routinely accused of human rights abuses including torture and extra-judicial killings, the Ethnic Nationalities Organisation believe that it is essential that Amnesty International commit to undertaking these actions. The Ethnic Nationalities Organisation hopes that by taking action in this matter Amnesty International will help ensure that Mr Mahn Nyein Maung is treated humanely and according to international law. Yours sincerely,

Saw A Ganemy Kunoo president Ethnic Nationalities Organisation Burma and Northeast India

E thnic Nationalities O rganisation

Burma and Northeast India
Incorporated in Victoria * * *
ABN: 63509847755

Mr. Brad Adams Asia Director Human Rights Watch First Floor, Audrey House 16 -20 Ely Place, London, EC1N 6SN United Kingdom 1st October, 2011 Dear Mr Adams

10 Konrads Court, Truganina Melbourne, Victoria 3029

AUSTRALIA

Tel: +61 3 93699220; Mob: +61 413693311 Email: wildbee7@myacn.net.au

I am writing to you as President of the Ethnic Nationalities Organisation: Burma and Northeast India, an organisation that represents and works on behalf of the many ethnic communities from Burma who live in Australia. On behalf of the Ethnic Nationalities Organisation (ENO), I would like to raise the concern felt amongst the communities we represent regarding the reported arrest and detention by the Burmese government of Mr Mahn Nyein Maung, a leading member of the Karen National Union (KNU) and a Central Committee Member of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC). It is the belief of Ethnic Nationalities Organisation that Mr Mahn Nyein MaungisentitledtoPrisonerofWarstatus under Part I Article 4 (2) of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of August 12, 1949 (Geneva Convention III), to which the country of Burma is a party. The Ethnic Nationalities Organisation calls upon Human Rights Watch to undertake the following courses of action in relation to the detention of Mr Mahn Nyein Maung: 1. 2. 3. CalluponthegovernmentofBurmatoconfirmitsdetentionofMrMahnNyeinMaung. Calluponthegovernment of Burma toprovidedetailsconcerningthelocationofMrMahnNyeinMaungs detentionandtheconditionsunderwhichheisbeingheld. Demand that the government of Burma as a party to the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of PrisonersofWarofAugust12,1949(GenevaConventionIII)recogniseandtreatMrMahnNyeinMaungasa PrisonerofWarwithalltherightsandprotectionsduetothisstatus. Request immediate access by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross to confirm thatthedetentionofMrMahnNyeinMaungconformstobasicstandardsofhumanrightsandinternational lawconcerningprisonersofwar.

4.

Given that the government of Burma and its security forces are routinely accused of human rights abuses including torture and extra-judicial killings, the Ethnic Nationalities Organisation believe that it is essential that Human Rights Watch commit to undertaking these actions. The Ethnic Nationalities Organisation hopes that by taking action in this matter Human Rights Watch will help ensure that Mr Mahn Nyein Maung is treated humanely and according to international law. Yours sincerely,

Saw A Ganemy Kunoo President Ethnic Nationalities Organisation Burma and Northeast India