Burma Campaign UK today called on Hugo Swire MP, British Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for Burma, to pressure the military-backed government in Burma to secure the unconditional release of Win Myint, Kan Min Thar, Tun Oo and all remaining political prisoners.
To draw attention to hundreds of political prisoners still in jail, Burma Campaign UK is highlighting a case of a different political prisoner every month as part of the No Political Prisoner Left Behind campaign. The political prisoners for this month are Win Myint, Kan Min Thar and Tun Oo.
Win Myint, Kan Min Thar and Tun Oo are members of the All Burma Student Democratic Front (ABSDF) and they have been campaigning for genuine democracy and freedom in the country. ABSDF is a students resistance group against the military-backed government in Burma.
They were charged under the Unlawful Association Act 17 (1), which the military-backed government in Burma uses to ban people from associating with pro-democracy groups. They were charged under the Explosive Substances Act 4, accused of attending different trainings, including creating explosive devices and political trainings. It is a common tactic of the military-backed government in Burma to fabricate claims that pro-democracy activists are terrorists.
After a year in detention, in December 2011, Win Myint and Kan Min Thar were sentenced to 10 years in prison and Tun Oo was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
Burma Campaign UK has welcomed Thein Sein’s announcement to establish a review Committee. Burma Campaign UK has been campaigning for a similar mechanism. However, there are 10 key issues, which if not addressed could undermine its credibility, and prevent it from genuinely addressing the issue of political prisoners in Burma. These ten issues are highlighted in our media release here: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/news-and-reports/news-stories/burma-political-prisoner-committee-welcome-but-serious-questions-remain/8
“The military-backed government in Burma keeps hundreds of activists in jail simply because of their belief in freedom and democracy,” said Wai Hnin, Campaigns Officer at Burma Campaign UK. “As long as there is a political prisoner remaining in jail, there won’t be any genuine democracy in Burma.”