Summary of the Current Situation
As of the end of December, 81 political activists remained in prison, with 78 farmers in jail. 203 people are awaiting trial. As another year passes by the government’s promise to release all political prisoners by the end of 2013 is once again left unfulfilled. This failed promise along with recent events such as the death of freelance journalist and protestor Daw Khin Win, and the continuous repression of the rights of activists and human rights workers along with the ongoing charging of land rights activists and farmers show December to have been a continuation of the previous months.
MONTH IN REVIEW
This month, 33 political activists were charged, 10 were sentenced and no political prisoners were released. Daw Khin Win, 56, was attending a protest of the Latpadaung Copper Mine, which is being developed by the Chinese company Wanbao Mining Ltd. Along with her death at least 10 other people were injured in the violence that occurred during these clashes.