Burma Campaign UK Welcomes Political Prisoner Release

Burma Campaign UK today welcomed the release of a significant number of political prisoners, including members of the 88 Generation Students and journalists from the Democratic Voice of Burma, but also cautioned the international community not to forget those political prisoners still left behind in Burma’s jails […]

Release of Political Prisoners in Burma Welcomed, Remaining Ones Should Be Released

Today the U.S. Campaign for Burma (USCB) confirmed that more than two hundred political prisoners were released today in Burma, including the country’s second most prominent democracy activist Min Ko Naing and Saffron Revolution monk leader U Gambira. They were released according to a conditional amnesty announced by the Burmese regime on January 12, 2012 […]

Statement by the President on the Release of Burmese Political Prisoners

President Thein Sein’s decision to release hundreds of prisoners of conscience is a substantial step forward for democratic reform […]

Open Letter to Alain Juppé, Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, Regarding Justice and Accountability and Democratic Reform in Burma

Dear Mr Minister,

We have the honour of writing to you before your upcoming visit to Burma. We urge you to use this valuable opportunity to press the Burmese authorities to: release all political prisoners and ensure their freedom to participate in the political transition; repeal oppressive legislation; cease military offensives in ethnic areas and grant greater unfettered access to humanitarian groups; and
prioritize justice and accountability for past and on-going human rights abuses in the country […]

2012: A Year for Cautious Optimism

At the end of 2011, looking back at some of the initial steps taken towards progress in the country, 2012 looked more promising with the hope that real progress and substantive change would be coming to Burma. Only one week into the New Year, to our surprise, disenchantment has already set in.

On 2 January, President Thein Sein signed a clemency order marking this week’s 64th anniversary of independence from British colonial rule. Under the order, death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment and prisoners serving more than 30 years had their sentences cut to 30 years. Those serving 20 to 30 years had their terms reduced to 20 years, while those with less than 20 years had their sentences cut by one-fourth. Under this clemency, 6,656 people who had already served the time of their reduced sentences were released. However, as reported by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners – Burma (AAPP), at the end of the day on 3 January, only 34 political prisoners were freed. Those who have a critical role to play in the democratic transition and national reconciliation process will continue to remain behind bars for decades […]

Burma Campaign UK Welcomes Hague’s Pragmatic Message on Burma

Burma Campaign UK today welcomed British Foreign Secretary William Hague’s upbeat but pragmatic message on political progress in Burma during his visit to the country. It is the first visit to Burma by a British Foreign Secretary in 55 years […]

All Political Prisoners should be Freed Immediately

The Burmese government is continuing its public relations game which has delivered little substantive change by refusing to honor previous promises to release all political prisoners […]

CSW Welcomes Foreign Secretary’s Call for Release of Political Prisoners While Recognising “Momentum for Change” in Burma

As the Foreign Secretary William Hague concludes his visit to Burma today, Christian Solidarity Worldwide welcomes his assessment that although there is “momentum for change” in Burma, that “much more is needed to be done” before EU sanctions are lifted […]

Alleged Amnesty is Highly Limited in Nature and Amounts to a Paltry Reduction of Harsh Prison Terms

On 2 January, President U Thein Sein of the Union Solidarity Development Party signed amnesty order 1/2012, authorizing a commutation of death sentences to life and a reduction in prison terms. Those prisoners serving more than 30 year sentences […]

Statement by the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission on Its Visits to the Insein Prison and Hlay-Hlaw-Inn Yebet Prison Labour Camp

An eight-member team of the Commission, headed by its Chairman visited the Insein Prison on 27 December 2011 and the Hlay-Hlaw-Inn Yebet Prison Labour Camp in Hlegu Township on 28 December 2011. Earlier a four-member team […]