No political prisoners must remain in jail! Free Myint Aye!

By Burma Campaign UK • July 5, 2012

On Tuesday this week, the military backed government in Burma announced the release of 25 political prisoners. Three recent released activists’ cases were highlighted, as part of Burma Campaign UK’s new campaign, No Political Prisoner Left Behind, which highlights a political prisoner case every month. Aye Aung, Khun Kawrio and Than Zaw were released under a presidential order.

Burma Campaign UK today urged Jeremy Browne MP, British Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for Burma, to pressure the military backed government to agree to the formation of a joint domestic and international board with the involvement of the UN, to investigate how many political prisoners remain in Burma’s jails and secure their release as soon as possible.

“The release of political prisoners is very welcome but these releases have been going on since November 2010 at a very slow pace. It can’t continue like this,” said Wai Hnin, Campaigns Officer at Burma Campaign UK. “To secure the releases of all political prisoners, we need a proper mechanism such as the formation of a joint domestic and international board with the help of the UN to investigate how many activists in Burma remain in jail and make sure that none of them are left behind in jails.”

Burma Campaign UK welcomes the recent releases of democracy activists but is continuing to highlight the cases of different political prisoners every month. The political prisoner of this month is Myint Aye, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2008.

Myint Aye is a 62-year-old activist from Burma who worked to educate people about human rights and promote the issues related to human rights and freedom in Burma. He had been arrested at least six times since 1988 for his activities in promoting human rights and participating in pro-democracy demonstrations. He was arrested in August 2008 and charged with 4 different counts, including under the 17/1 of the Unlawful Association Act and sentenced to a life imprisonment.

“I am happy to see the recent releases of democracy activists but very much disappointed with the fact that many have been left behind.” said Wai Hnin , Campaigns Officer at Burma Campaign UK. “U Thein Sein must allow a joint domestic and international board to be formed with the help of the UN to investigate how many activists in Burma remain in jail and secure their release as soon as possible.”

Burma Campaign UK supporters are being asked to write a letter to Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne asking him to pressure the military backed government to allow the formation of a joint domestic and international board with the involvement of the UN to investigate the numbers of political prisoners remaining in Burma’s jails and secure their releases. Solidarity letters can also be written and sent to Loikaw prison, where Myint Aye is imprisoned.

To take action for the release of Shwe Htoo, please click here.