Join our mailing list for latest news and information about Burma.
1,000 Letters About Burma’s Political Prisoners Delivered To William Hague
By Burma Campaign UK • November 29, 2013Burma Campaign UK today delivered 1,000 letters calling on the Foreign Secretary William Hague to pressure the military-backed government in Burma to set up a permanent and independent review committee for political prisoners and secure their immediate unconditional release.
Although there have been releases of many high profile political prisoners, hundreds of activists are still being arrested under repressive laws. In Kachin State and in Rakhine state, hundreds more remain in jail or are awaiting trials.
To solve the problem of political prisoners in Burma, the following issues need to be addressed.
1. All political prisoners should be released immediately and unconditionally.
2. All repressive laws should be repealed or revised. Until then, there should be a suspension of the application of repressive laws.
3. A permanent and genuinely independent review mechanism with the involvement of international experts should be in place to investigate cases where people were jailed unjustly, and secure their immediate, unconditional release.
4. Compensation and rehabilitation programs should be provided for former political prisoners after their release.
5. Criminal records, which all former political prisoners have, should be removed and they should be allowed to continue their studies and their previous careers without restrictions.
“It is now very clear that the review committee is not going to solve the problem of political prisoners in the country. Many activists and ethnic civilians are still being arrested,” said Wai Hnin, Campaigns Officer at Burma Campaign UK. “A credible and permanent review process is needed to make sure that people in Burma are not wrongfully jailed for their ethnicity, religion or political beliefs.”
Tags: British Foreign Secretary William Hague, Burma Campaign UK, Political Prisoners, UKThis post is in: Press Release
Related PostsOne Month On From Signing Sexual Violence Declaration – No Action Taken
Women Delegates at Global Summit Use Social Media Campaign To Raise Awareness
Women of Burma Attend Global Summit To End Sexual Violence In Conflict
Sexual Violence in Burma ‘Deeply Troubling’ Says UK Foreign Secretary William Hague
Burma Campaign UK Welcomes Hague’s Pragmatic Message on Burma
All posts