Amnesty International: Arrests of political activists increase in Burma

[Jack Rabbit]

From Amnesty International
Dated Thursday June 16

Myanmar: Arrests of political activists increase
Aung San Suu Kyi turns 60 under house arrest

With Aung San Suu Kyi due to spend her 60th birthday under house arrest on 19 June, Amnesty International is issuing a report detailing new arrests of political activists and the situation of Aung San Suu Kyi and hundreds of other prisoners of conscience and political prisoners of long-standing concern.

The organisation is launching a global petition calling on the Burmese authorities to stop abusing the justice system to silence peaceful political activists and to immediately and unconditionally release all prisoners of conscience.

"Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been denied her liberty for almost two-thirds of the last 16 years and has never been charged or brought to trial. It is a totally unacceptable price to pay for her peaceful political activities," said Irene Khan, Secretary General at Amnesty International. "Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all others detained solely on the basis of their peaceful political activities must be released immediately and unconditionally."

More members of parliament were arrested in the two months of February and March 2005 than in the 21 months since May 2003. Since February 2005, the authorities have arrested at least five opposition members of parliament elected in the 1990 elections. The results of those elections have never been acknowledged by the Burmese authorities, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). At least ten politicians from the Shan ethnic nationality were arrested in February 2005, including Khun Htun Oo, chairman of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy party.

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[BayouBengal07]

1. Hmmmm...

I think we should spread freedom and democracy to Myanmar. Grab your gun, soldier!