Closed: Release Burma's prisoners of conscience
‘One prisoner of conscience is one too many.' - Aung San Suu Kyi
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This action is now closed. More than 16,000 of you signed this petition and called for the release of all Burma's Prisoners of Conscience. We will add your names to thousands of others collected around the world and deliver it to Burma's Minister of Home Affairs. Campaigning for human rights in the country is already having an effect but this petitition will show the authorities there's a long way to go yet, and that the world is watching. Many thanks to everybody that took action. |
Update 3 July: Good news! Your signatures are working. Prisoners of conscience Khun Kawrio, Ko Aye Aung, Than Zaw and Pyit Phyo Aung were released as part of a wider prisoner Amnesty that included 24 political prisoners. On release Khun Kawrio thanked all those who had supported him:
"Thank you all so much, I will keep working for democracy and human rights development in Burma and in the Kayan region. I hope to meet you all personally some time; I want to send best regards to you all."
Although 650 political prisoners have been released since May last year, hundreds remain behind bars.While we are delighted that prominent prisoners of conscience including Aung San Suu Kyi have been released, those still imprisoned for peaceful political activities are at risk of being forgotten. Read their stories
Four years ago U Myint Aye was arrested after providing aid to survivors of cyclone Nargis. During interrogation, his colleagues were tortured in front of him until he offered a ‘confession’ to charges of funding terrorism. He is serving life imprisonment in a cell 20 hours’ drive away from his family.
On a recent visit to the country our researchers approached the Burmese authorities with lists of political prisoners to raise the issue at the highest level. But some dismissed the lists as ‘just names’.
U Myint Aye is not just a name. He is a prisoner of conscience and he represents just one of hundreds languishing behind bars.
