British Government Backs Burma Political Prisoner Review Mechanism

Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire MP has backed ‘a comprehensive and transparent mechanism’ to review cases of political prisoners in Burma. He voiced his support in a letter responding to letters from the public about political prisoners in Burma […]

Thein Sein Must Release Nay Myo Zin and Win Cho

Burma Campaign UK today urged President Thein Sein to immediately release Nay Myo Zin, Win Cho and all remaining political prisoners, and to fully repeal Article 18 of the Peaceful Procession and Peaceful Assembly Law […]

Myanmar National Human Rights Council Urged to Free Aung Soe

Burma Campaign UK today urged U Win Mra, the Chairman of the Myanmar National Human Rights Council to call for the establishment of a permanent review mechanism for political prisoners, and the immediate release of Aung Soe and all remaining political prisoners in Burma […]

No End in Sight For Political Prisoners in Burma – Permanent Review Mechanism Needed

Members of the European Burma Network today call for the establishment of a permanent independent review mechanism to address the ongoing problem of political prisoners in Burma.

The release of hundreds of political prisoners in the past three years has been long overdue and is very welcome. However, it is now clear that despite government claims that all political prisoners have been released, many people remain in jail because of their political activities, ethnicity or religion […]

Despite End-of-Year Amnesty, Political Prisoner Issue Casts Shadow Over 2014

To casual Burma observers, President Thein Sein may appear to have fulfilled his promise to British Prime Minister David Cameron on 15 July 2013 that all political prisoners in Burma would be released by the end of 2013. After all, political prisoners were freed throughout 2013, culminating in two “final” releases on 11 December (41 released) and 31 December (16 released). The motive is not hard to discern: such high profile releases play into the current “good news” narrative on Burma. The international community, hungrily eyeing up Burma’s huge potential as an untapped frontier market of boundless investment opportunities, cheap labor and vast natural resources, tends to lap up such reports without examining the narrative more carefully.
Inevitably the narrative is not so simple. The most prominent criticism of the Burma government’s policy towards political prisoners in 2013 was that it was releasing some, while all the time arresting others, particularly land and community activists. This “revolving door” policy ensured that Burma’s jails were in no danger of being put out of business […]

Kachin National Organization Demand Unconditional Release of All Kachin Political Prisoners

Today, the Kachin National Organization (KNO) expressed concern that the Burmese government is continuing to arrest and sentence fellow Kachins for their political belief at alarmingly high rates in Kachin State despite the Burmese government declared sweeping amnesty on Tuesday 31st December 2013 that it would have “no more political prisoners” by year-end […]

President Thein Sein Fails to Keep His Promise to Release All Political Prisoners by Year-End

The international community should hold the Burmese government accountable for failing to fulfill its promise to release all political prisoners by December 31, 2013, said FIDH and its member organization the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma) today […]

Amnesty Does Not Free All Political Detainees

The Asian Human Rights Commission welcomes Order No. 51/2013 of 30 December 2013 by the president of Burma (Myanmar), issuing a general amnesty for all persons imprisoned or facing trial or investigation for certain categories of political offences. The categories include persons accused or convicted of offences under the colonial-era Unlawful Associations Act, for charges of treason, sedition or disturbing the public tranquillity under the Penal Code (sections 122, 124A and 505[b]), the 2011 Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law, and the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act […]

Khin Mi Mi Khaing, Myint Myint Aye and Thant Zin Htet Released After Hunger Strike

Burma Campaign UK today welcomes the release of Khin Mi Mi Khaing, Myint Myint Aye and Thant Zin Htet, who have been on hunger strike since December 13th. The three were released after Pegu Divisional court accepted their appeal against the charges against them.

Khin Mi Mi Khaing and Myint Myint Aye are leaders of two independent women’s networks in Burma, and Thant Zin Htet is a student activist. In June, they visited Pae Ma Khan village in Bago Division to show their support to farmers who ploughed land that had been confiscated from them […]

Brang Yung and Lahpai Gam Prison Sentences Increased

On Thursday 19th December two Kachin civilians, Brang Yung and Lahpai Gam, had their sentences increased from 2 to 7 years in jail. They were already serving 2 year prison sentences after a verdict last month. It is not yet clear why their sentences were increased. Although Thein Sein promised to release all political prisoners by the end of this year, farmers, activists and ethnic civilians are continuing to be arrested, and put on trial […]