Burma Campaign UK today strongly urged Hugo Swire MP, British Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for Burma, to push the military-backed government in Burma to secure the unconditional release of Khin Mi Mi Khaing and Myint Myint Aye, and to repeal all the repressive laws which put political prisoners in jail.
As part of the No Political Prisoner Left Behind campaign, Burma Campaign UK is highlighting a case of a political prisoner every month to draw attention to hundreds of political prisoners still in jail. The political prisoners for this month are Khin Mi Mi Khaing and Myint Myint Aye.
Khin Mi Mi Khaing and Myint Myint Aye are leaders of two independent women’s networks in Burma, which promote equality, peace, and development in the country. In June, they visited Pae Ma Khan village in Bago Division to show their support to farmers who ploughed land that had been confiscated. The Burma Army had confiscated their land almost two decades ago.
On 11th June, the day after the demonstration, they were asked to meet the head of the local authority from Nattalin Township in Bago Division. On their arrival, they were arrested and taken to Nattalin Court by the police.
Khin Mi Mi Khaing and Myint Myint Aye were falsely accused of participating in illegal associations, and recruiting new members into their associations. They were charged under Section 6 for violating the Unlawfully Association Act and failing to register their social networks with the Burmese government.
They were denied bail and sent to Paungde Prison. Family members are worried about their health because Khin Mi Mi Khaing has suffered from hypertension and Myint Myint Aye suffered from mild stroke last year. Their trials continue at Nattalin Court.
“The continuing arrest of activists should be a clear sign to the international community that they can’t trust Thein Sein’s empty promises,” said Wai Hnin, Campaigns Officer at Burma Campaign UK. “The military-backed government still treats its people with no respect and activists are being arrested for standing up for their rights. If Thein Sein really wants genuine reform, he should start by repealing all repressive laws which put activists in jail.”