At the end of October, 75 political prisoners remain incarcerated in prison, with another 121 awaiting trial.
In October, eight activists were charged, 26 were sentenced, and 21 released.
Extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, and torture have been sharply brought to the forefront of human rights violations that take place in Burma following the killing of freelance reporter Aung Kyaw Naing (aka Par Gyi) this month while in a military custody in Mon State. After being shot and killed by a government soldier, his body was buried without first being examined or returned to his family. Serious questions have been raised surrounding his death.
This month, the government also demonstrated its continued disregard for media freedom within Burma. The five defendants in the Bi Mon Te Nay Journal case were all sentenced to two years imprisonment under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, and have had their first appeal rejected without any explanation.