No Political Prisoner Left Behind

Members of the Peacock Generation Thangyat group

On 30^th October, five student activists were sentenced to one year’s imprisonment with hard labour for criticising the military in their satirical performance.

Kay Khaing Tun, Zayar Lwin, Paing Ye Thu, Di Yay and Pho Thar were arrested in April during the Burmese New Year celebration for criticising and making fun of the military during their performance. They are members of Peacock Generation Thangyat group, a type of slam poetry traditionally performed during the Burmese New Year holiday.

After being detained for more than six months, they were sentenced to one year in prison with hard labour under the the 505 (a) of Burma’s Penal Code. Four of the five Peacock Generation members are also facing an additional two years’ imprisonment under the Telecommunication Law for defamation. They are currently serving their prison sentences in Insein prison.

Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi

On 29^th August 2019, Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi, a Burmese filmmaker, was sentenced to 1 year in prison for criticising the military-drafted 2008 Constitution and the military’s role in politics.

Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi has liver cancer and needs regular check ups and medicines. He has already spent more than four months in prison and has not received adequate healthcare.

Aung Marm Oo

Aung Marm Oo is a journalist currently in hiding from Burma’s notorious Special Branch police, fearing arrest and up to five years in jail.

All Aung Marm Oo did is try to report on what is going on in Rakhine State, Burma. That included reporting on human rights violations by the military against civilians. He has received death threats, and now Special Branch are looking for him.

Campaign Successes The following prisoners have been released:

Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo

Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were arrested in Rangoon after investigating the killing of 10 Rohingya men buried in a mass grave.

They were arrested on 12th December 2017 after being invited to meet police officials over dinner.

They were charged under the Official Secrets Act and were sentenced to 7 years in prison on 3 September 2018

They were released under a Presidential amnesty on 7 May 2019

Mai Cho Min Htwe

14-year-old Mai Cho Min Htwe was convicted without a trial on 30^th October 2017 for allegedly being involved with an ethnic armed group and sentenced to two years in prison.

He was charged under Article 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act.

There was no proper trial and he had no access to lawyers until three days after he was convicted. According to Mai Cho Min Htwe’s lawyer, military officers reportedly interrogated Mai Cho Min Htwe overnight, beat him, and deprived him of sleep, food, and water.

He was released under a Presidential amnesty on 7 May 2019

Ma Hla Phyu

Ma Hla Phyu, a Rohingya teacher, was arrested on 23^rd May 2018 and sentenced to one year in prison with hard labour, just for travelling without permission from the government.

She served her sentence in Thandwe Prison, Rakhine State.

Released at the end of her sentence in 2019.

Kachin activists

On 7 December 2018,  Nang Pu, Lum Zawng and Zau Jat were sentenced to six months in prison and 500,000 Kyat (£250) fine each in Kachin State, Northern Burma. They organised peaceful protests during the spring of 2018 in support of villagers trapped in the jungle, after the Burmese army had attacked their villages.

They were charged with defamation under Article 500 of the Penal Code.

Nang Pu was released two months early on 5 April 2019

Lum Zawng and Zau Jat were released on 26 April 2019

Mading Zau Bawk

• Ethnic Kachin farmer arrested in May 2012 on false accusation.
• Released on 17 April 2018

Lahpai Gam 

• Kachin farmer who was arrested in June 2012 on a false accusation and brutally tortured.
• Given a 21 year prison sentence.
• Released on 17 April 2018

Dumdaw Nawng Latt and Langjaw Gam Seng

Dumdaw Nawng Latt and Langjaw Gam Seng are two ethnic Kachin pastors.

In October 2017, Dumdaw Nawng Latt was sentenced to four years and three months and Langjaw Gam Seng was sentenced to two years and three months in jail.

They were arrested in December 2016 for helping journalists from Rangoon report on the situation in Mong Ko, the site of heavy fighting between the Burmese Army and a coalition of ethnic armed organisations.

Released on 17 April 2018

Khaing Myo Htun

• A Rakhine human rights activist arrested on 25^th July 2016 for exposing human rights abuses committed by the Burmese Army.
• Charged under Section 505 (b) and (c) of the Myanmar Penal code.
• Released on 22 February 2018, after he served 18 months in prison – including nine months in pre-trial detention.

Zaw Zaw Latt and Pwint Phyu Latt

• Human rights defenders, Zaw Zaw Latt and Pwint Phyu Latt were arrested in July 2015 on trumped up charges because of their work to promote religious freedom.
• In April 2016, Zaw Zaw Latt and Pwint Phyu Latt were sentenced to four years in prison with hard labour.
• Released on 24 May 2017 under a Presidential amnesty.

U Gambira  

• A leader of the 2007 Saffron Revolution. Arrested in November 2007 and sentenced to 68 years in prison.
• Released on 13 January 2012.
• Arrested and released several times during 2012.
• He was arrested again on January 19 2016 and charged under section 13(a) of the Burma Immigration (Emergency Provisions) Act of 1947.
• On 26 April 2016 he was sentenced to six months in prison with hard labour.
• Released on 1 July 2016, at the end of his sentence.

Htin Lin Oo

• A writer and a former Information Officer for the National League for Democracy (NLD).
• Arrested after a speech on 23^rd October 2014 where he criticised the use of Buddhism to promote discrimination and prejudice in the country.
• Charged under Section 295(a) of “insulting religion” and under Section 298 of “wounding religious feelings” and sentenced to two years with hard labour on 2 June 2015.
• He was released on 17 April 2016.

Nilar Thein

• Nilar Thein is one of the prominent leaders of the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society Group and a former political prisoner.
• Arrested on 24th February 2016 for allegedly supporting student protests against the National Education Bill last year.
• Released on 8 April 2016

Aung Soe

• A human rights activist who has been repeatedly arrested and jailed for his peaceful political activities.
• Arrested on 18^th May 2014 for his involvement in anti-land-grab protests in Mandalay and sentenced to 3 years and 6 months.
  
• He was released on 17 April 2016.

Naing Htay Lwin and Myo Min Min

• Naing Htay Lwin and Myo Min Min are trade union leaders, were arrested in February 2015 for asking for a pay rise of $1 a day for garment workers.
• They were arrested for protesting without permission, and they were also falsely accused of advocating violence during protests.
• On 11^th September 2015, they were sentenced to two years and six months in Insein prison.
• They were released on 17 April 2016.

Htin Kyaw

• A human rights activist who has been repeatedly arrested and jailed for his peaceful political activities.
• Arrested on 5^th May 2014, and charged under two different counts including under Article 18 of the Peaceful Assembly Law. Sentenced to nine years and four months in Insein prison.
• Released on 17 April 2016

Naw Ohn Hla

• Naw Ohn Hla is a prominent woman activist, who has been arrested and imprisoned several times.
• She was arrsted in December 2014 and sentenced to six years and two months in , just for taking part in a peaceful protest.
• Released on 8 April 2016

Patrick Kum Jaa Lee

• Arrested on 14^th October 2015 for allegedly sharing a picture on Facebook which mocked the Burmese military.
• On 22 January 2016, he was sentenced to six months in prison for “online defamation”.
• Released on 1 April 2016.

Myint Soe

• Labour activist who was arrested in March 2013 for cutting down a tree.
• Sentenced to 7 and half years in prison.
• Released January 2016.

Brang Yung

• Kachin Farmer who was arrested in June 2012 on false accusation and brutally tortured.
• Released 28 December 2015

Sein Than

• A community leader arrested on 31July 2014 for leading peaceful protests in support of people demanding compensation or return of their land that was confiscated by the military.
• Released 2015

Bi Mon Te Nay journalists

• Bi Mon Te Nay Journal’s three journalists Kyaw Zaw Hein, Win Tin, Thura Aung, and owners Yin Min Htun and Kyaw Min Khaing were arrested in July 2014.
• They were sentenced under section 505 (b) of Burma’s penal code for “committing or inducing others to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility.” The journal was shut down after they were arrested.
• Released July 2015.
  

Ba Thar, Kyaw Khin, Kyaw Myint and Hla Myint

• Rohingya community leaders jailed in March 2015for calling themselves Rohingya.
• Released 30 July 2015

Aung Ko Latt

• Democracy activist who works to promote human rights education, sentenced to 11 years in prison.
• Released 30 July 2015

Dr Tun Aung, a community leader arrested in June 2012 and sentenced to 17 years in prison, was released on 19 January 2014.

Released on 7 October 2014. La Ring is an ethnic Kachin farmer who was arrested in June 2012.

Released on 7 October 2014. Kyaw Hla Aung is a community leader who was arrested on 15th July 2013. 

Released on 24th June 2014.  Nay Myo Zin and Win Cho were released after serving their sentences.

Released on 24 January 2014. Bauk Ja is an ethnic Kachin activist arrested on 18th July.

Released on 24 December 2013. Thant Zin Htet is a student activist arrested on 11th June 2013 for promoting farmers’ rights.

Released on 24 December 2013. Khin Mi Mi Khaing and Myint Myint Aye are leaders of women’s networks. Arrested June 2013 after they supported farmers protesting on confiscated land.

Released on 15 November 2013 Naw Ohn Hla is a prominent woman activist arrested on 13th August 2013 for leading a peaceful protest without permission.

Released on 15 November 2013 Aung Soe was arrested in April 2013 for organising ploughing protests on confiscated land.

Released on 23 July 2013. Kachin farmer Brang Shawng was arrested in June 2012. While he was under interrogation, he was brutally tortured.

Released on 17 May 2013 Win Myint, Kan Min Thar and Tun Oo are political activists who were jailed by the military-backed government in Burma.

Released on 18 January 2013 Aung Hmine San, Than Htike, Min Naing Lwin and Thein Aung Myint were arrested for protesting without permission in December 2012. They were sentenced to one month in prison but freed after the trial as they had already been in prison for 33 days.

Released on 19 November 2012 Zaw Zaw Aung is a human rights activist who had been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Released on 19 November 2012 Myint Aye is a 62-year-old activist who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2008.

Released on 17 September 2012 Shwe Htoo, a retired teacher who was sent to prison for 42 years in 1998.

Released on 3 July 2012 Khun Kawrio was sentenced to 37 years in prison for his part in the campaign against the 2008 referendum.

Released on 3 July 2012 NLD member Thant Zaw was sent to prison for 30 years in 1989.

Released on 3 July 2012 Aye Aung was sentenced to 59 years in prison in 1998.