Yesterday in Burma around thirteen political prisoners were released. Eleven of them were political prisoners we have been campaigning on!
Released!
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 and charged with making false statements that can “alarm the public” after reporting someone saying something which turned out to be incorrect. They were sentenced to two years in prison.
Released!
Rohingya community leaders Ba Thar, Kyaw Khin Kyaw Myint and Hla Myint. They were arrested in April 2013 for taking part in a community protest against the government-led population registration exercise. The population registering exercise did not allow members of the Rohingya community to identify themselves as Rohingya.
Released!
Aung Ko Latt is a 36-year-old activist who works to promote human rights education by distributing leaflets and giving talks to people in Burma. He was arrested in June 2011 with the false accusation of being a member of the Karen National Union (KNU) and bombing Myoma Market in Naypyidaw.
Released!
Sein Than, a community leader, who was arrested on 31st July 2014 for protesting without government permission.
Your support has made a real difference for these political prisoners. Now let’s help ensure all political prisoners are released and that repressive laws used to jail them are repealed.
These releases show that campaigning does work. However, around 150 political prisoners remain in jail, and hundreds more activists are awaiting trial. We want to step up our campaigns to free all political prisoners, increasing pressure for their release. But we can’t do this without more resources.
Will you make a donation today to help free more political prisoners in Burma? Donate here.
