The Burmese junta’s proposed 2010 elections, the first step in activating the 2008 constitution, will have disastrous impacts on Burma and the region.

In a briefer titled “2010 Elections: A Recipe for Continued Conflict,” regional human rights network Altsean-Burma states that the regime’s preparations for 2010 have already had serious human security impacts on the region - increased crimes against humanity and escalated armed conflict caused 43,800 refugees to cross over into China and Thailand within the past three months alone.

The 11-page briefer reveals serious concerns over the possible conduct of the 2010 elections that is likely to disenfranchise an estimated 1.9 million voters. It also outlines the serious flaws in the 2008 constitution that will intensify the root causes of conflict that has plagued Burma.

“In the past few months, Burma’s State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has systematically dashed every hope for political space through locking up viable opposition candidates, using violence against ethnic nationalities and inflicting its usual strong-arm tactics on the population. While the elections are expected to be a farce, the greatest tragedy for Burma will be the constitution itself,” said Altsean-Burma Coordinator Debbie Stothard. The regime’s oppressive constitution will come into effect when ‘elected’ MPs convene the Parliament.

“The constitution grants the military immunity from prosecution and freedom from public accountability. It also cements military control over future constitutional amendments, rendering any electoral process useless, no matter how free or fair it is. Worse still, the constitution legitimizes military subjugation of ethnic nationality communities,” she explained.

The briefer proposes solutions to turn the situation around and presents indicators to assess progress. It asserts that immediate steps forward must be centered on changes to allow constitutional amendments by a majority of civilian legislators and ensuring that all people of Burma, including political prisoners, can participate as voters and candidates.

“2010 Elections: A Recipe for Continued Conflict” is available in both PDF and Word format at http://www.altsean.org/Reports/2010Electionsbis.php

State-owned China National Petroleum Corporation holds a majority stake in the construction of dual oil and gas pipelines which will transfer oil shipped from the Middle East and Africa as well as natural gas from the Shwe Gas fields in western Burma to China’s Yunnan Province. The project will provide the military junta a minimum of 29 billion US dollars over 30 years.

Abuses are already starting to surface in the project area, including beatings of fishermen and fishing prohibitions in the offshore drilling area as well as confiscation of land at the start of the pipeline in Arakan State.

Burma ranks tenth in the world in terms of natural gas reserves yet its per capita electricity consumption is less than 5% of neighbouring Thailand and China, as it exports most of its energy resources. Increased fuel prices led to country-wide demonstrations in 2007, which were cracked down upon by the Burma Army.

“Land confiscation and other human rights abuses in the pipeline corridor and exporting the oil and gas while people across the country is facing energy shortages is a dangerous mix that will cause social unrest and conflicts between local people and foreign corporations, says Wong Aung, International Coordinator of Shwe Gas Movement.

Unresolved conflicts between the Burma regime and ethnic ceasefire armies along the planned pipeline route in northern Shan State led to a military offensive by the Burma Army in August forcing over thirty thousand ethnic Kokang to escape to China. 

Last month the Danish Pension Fund Danica Pension blacklisted one of the main stakeholders in the Shwe project, Daewoo International, citing a “breach of international guidelines in connection with its activities in Burma.” Other pension funds are reported to be monitoring the corporations involved in the Shwe gas pipelines project.

“China has the power to suspend this project, and rather that being part of the problem, becoming part of a long-term solution by promoting equitable development of the people of the two nations and peace in the region,” says Kim, Shwe Gas Movement ,India.
——

The Shwe Gas Movement is a coalition of organizations from Burma based in Thailand, India, Bangladesh and Burma. See http://www.shwe.org for more information
Contact:
Mr.Wong Aung +66(0)873008354 ( Thailand)
Mr.Aung Marm Oo +66 (0) 816736326
Mr.Kim, +91(0) 9810 476 273,( India)
E-mail global@shwe.org

Click here to see the open letter to Government of China

On 24th October Aung San Suu Kyi reaches a total of 14 years in detention, most of it under house arrest. On 11th August 2009, after a sham trial, Aung San Suu Kyi was given a further 18 months under house arrest. Her current period of detention is not due to expire until February 2011. Despite an international outcry, no concrete action was taken to secure her release.

“UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon needs to mobilise the international community to secure the release of all political prisoners,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. “Aung San Suu Kyi has managed to use sanctions as leverage to persuade the Generals to resume dialogue, but so far all we have is low level officials talking about talks. Aung San Suu Kyi needs our support in pressuring the generals to start real dialogue.”

Burma’s generals are pressing ahead with fake elections in 2010, which will bring in a rubber stamp parliament and a new constitution designed to legalise dictatorship. Ahead of the elections the dictatorship has increased arrests and harassment of democracy activists, and ensured that Aung San Suu Kyi remains detained during the period of the elections. It is also escalating attacks on ethnic people, creating a human rights and humanitarian crisis which has already spread to its neighbours.

Despite the slaughter and increasing instability taking place in ethnic areas, and the continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and more than 2,100 political prisoners, much of the international community seems prepared to sit back and wait and see if any small change comes from ‘elections’ next year.

“There needs to be a sense of urgency about what is happening in Burma,” said Mark Farmaner. “Aung San Suu Kyi has spent yet another year in detention. The generals are defying the international community and pressing ahead with an election and constitution that could keep them in power for decades to come. It is a myth that they are not vulnerable to pressure, they are vulnerable, but the right pressure has never been applied. Fine words are not enough, we need action.”

The Burma Campaign UK is calling for all possible tools to be used to persuade Burma’s generals to enter into genuine dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic representatives. These should include diplomatic pressure, targeted economic sanctions, legal pressure such as a UN Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed by the dictatorship, and a global arms embargo.

For more information about Aung San Suu Kyi visit:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/burma/about-burma/about-burma/a-biography-of-aung-san-suu-kyi

For more information contact Mark Farmaner on 020 7324 4710

Timor-Leste becomes the 32nd country to back a global arms embargo against Burma. Supporters of the Burma Campaign UK have been targeting the country asking it to support a global arms embargo. Campaigners are attempting to build a global consensus on a UN arms embargo against Burma, in order to help overcome expected opposition at the Security Council by Russia and China.

“We are very pleased to have the first Asian country backing our call from a global arms embargo,” said Zoya Phan, International Coordinator of Burma Campaign UK. “Momentum for an arms embargo is growing, and we call on other Asian countries to follow the lead of Timor-Leste in supporting an embargo. I would also like to thank the President for remembering my father, Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan, who was assassinated by agents of the dictatorship last year, in his statement.”

Countries supporting a global arms embargo so far are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus,  Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and USA.

For more information contact Zoya Phan on 44(0)7738630139.

Statement from Dr Jose Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, 12th October 2009:
Earlier this month, Burma’s military regime provided a further example of its extraordinary inhumanity and intransigence, with its decision to reject the appeal by my fellow Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi against the verdict last month which imposed a further term of eighteen months under house arrest. I deplore this decision, and call for her immediate and unconditional release.

The events of the past two years in Burma have shocked the world. The military regime’s brutal suppression of the peaceful protests led by Buddhist monks in 2007, followed by the assassination of Karen leader Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan, the tragedy of Cyclone Nargis, the sham constitutional referendum, the escalation in the military offensive against civilians in eastern Burma, the famine in Chin State, attacks on ethnic groups on the China-Burma border and the trial and continued imprisonment of my fellow Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi are all examples of the desperate political, human rights and humanitarian crisis in Burma today.

The deterioration in the political and humanitarian situation calls for a clear response by the international community. I welcome the initiatives taken by the UN Secretary-General, and the recent statements by the US Administration. I also welcome Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s clear reiteration of her call for dialogue with the regime. A combination of high-level, principled engagement with specific targeted pressure is what is required to bring the Generals to the negotiating table.

It is time for the international community to increase and intensify its efforts. In particular, it is time for the UN Security Council to introduce an arms embargo on the regime. There can be no justification for selling arms to a regime which has no external threats and uses those arms simply to suppress its owns people. As President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, I therefore call on all members of the UN Security Council to give serious consideration to this question, and to pass a resolution imposing a total, comprehensive, mandatory arms embargo.

The statement from Switzerland came after supporters of the Burma Campaign UK launched an email campaign calling on the Swiss government to support the embargo.  Campaigners are attempting to build a global consensus on a UN arms embargo against Burma, in order to help overcome expected opposition at the Security Council by Russia and China.

In response to requests from the campaign, the Swiss government stated:
“Switzerland introduced embargo measures against Myanmar already in October 2000. Switzerland’s sanctions include a comprehensive arms embargo as well as an embargo on items that may be used for internal repression. The measures are in line with the EU sanctions against Myanmar and are being periodically updated. We agree that only common action of all states can be effective, and that therefore all states that continue to export arms to Myanmar must be willing to stop their exports. Thus, Switzerland would welcome and support a coordinated initiative of the European Union and the US at the UN level to stop arms exports to Myanmar.”

“We welcome the support of Switzerland for a global arms embargo against Burma,” said Zoya Phan, International Coordinator of Burma Campaign UK. “Burma’s dictatorship is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, it is shocking that there isn’t already an arms embargo in place.”

Following the conviction of Aung San Suu Kyi in a sham trial in August 2009, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown stated: “I also believe that the UN Security Council - whose will has been flouted - must also now respond resolutely and impose a worldwide ban on the sale of arms to the regime.”

Countries supporting a global arms embargo so far are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus,  Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and USA.

For more information contact Zoya Phan or Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK, on 020 7324 4710.

At the start of Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial in May 2009 the European Union and other countries threatened tough action if she was convicted, but when the conviction was announced no tough new sanctions were introduced, no significant diplomatic pressure was applied, and the Security Council, after much wrangling, only issued a weak press statement, less than the Presidential statement it had issued in the past, and a long way from the binding resolution Burma’s democracy movement has been calling for.

“The lack of strong action by the international community has given Burma’s generals a green light to continue detaining Aung San Suu Kyi,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. “By now, Burma’s generals are well used to the fact that strong words rarely translate into practical action, so they continue to defy the international community and break internal law with impunity.”

The Burma Campaign UK is calling on the international community to abandon its current wait and see approach to Burma, whereby it appears to be content to sit back and wait and see if elections in 2010 bring about change, and instead renew efforts to enforce resolutions and statements by the United Nations General Assembly and United Nations Security Council which call on the dictatorship to free all political prisoners, end attacks on ethnic minorities, and enter into genuine tri-partite dialogue.

“Soft dialogue doesn’t work with these generals,” said Mark Farmaner. “We need real pressure applied, such as a global arms embargo and a United Nations Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed by the dictatorship.”

For more information contact Mark Farmaner on 020 7324 4710

(Washington, DC)  A leading United States-based human rights organization today welcomed the Obama Administration’s decision to maintain existing sanctions on Burma, as well as pursue further sanctions as circumstances warrant.  The State Department said that unilaterally lifting sanctions would send the wrong signal to Burma’s military regime, and that sanctions would only be lifted if the regime makes concrete changes.

“We strongly commend the Obama administration for its pledge to implement sanctions on Burma until there is concerete progress toward democracy and human rights,” said Aung Din, Executive Director of the U.S. Campaign for Burma.

The Obama administration today concluded a 7-month policy review aimed at invigorating U.S. policy toward Burma.  In addition to maintaining sanctions, the Administration said it would engage in a dialogue with the military regime aimed at a transition to democracy.

“High-level level talks with the military are a good thing,” added Aung Din. “However, this can not be a never-ending process.  There must be a timeframe and clear benchmarks for change, especially given the Burmese regime’s practice of engaging in never-ending diplomacy without any measurable results.”

While 66 U.S. Senators recently co-sponsored legislation renewing sanctions on Burma, a single U.S. Senator—Jim Webb (D-VA)—has called for the lifting of sanctions.  Through the policy review, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has rejected Webb’s approach, further saying “Engagement versus sanctions is a false choice.”

Local people describe the illness as similar to flu, but more severe and much more highly infectious. Symptoms include high fever, bleeding noses, coughs and sore throats. There are fears it could be the H1N1 swine flu virus.

The outbreak in Kachin State has hit five villages in the north-east of the state, starting at a primary school in Manje on 13th September. The five villages affected are; Manje, La Gun, Nawng Neng, Tamung Nye and Hubren. More than 1,600 people have contracted the illness, and 900 of the cases are described as serious. Most of those ill are between 2 and 15 years old. There is no proper medical provision in the area, and the Burma Campaign UK has been told that the dictatorship has been refusing to give permission for medical teams from Myitkyina, the state capital, to travel to the area, and no medicine has been provided. On 20th September the regime sent two medical doctors to the area to take blood tests, but there has been no word on the results.

The outbreak in Karen State has so far hit four villages in Mutraw (Papun) District. 300 villagers have been affected, including half the 200 students in Ta Dar Der middle school. The villages affected are Ta Dah Der, Ta Uu Der, Tay Mu Der and Ta Kot To Baw.

Both of the areas where the disease has struck are ethnic areas where the dictatorship fails to provide healthcare itself, and also restricts the United Nations and international agencies from providing aid.  The international community has failed to sufficiently challenge restrictions on the delivery of aid. It has also failed to provide sufficient funding for alternative ways of providing aid to areas that the regime blocks access to, such as cross-border mechanisms.

The lack of healthcare in Burma is not because of a lack of resources. Burma’s military dictatorship must also be challenged to over its use of resources. It spends up to 50 percent of its budget on the military, while at the same time siphoning off almost $5billion in revenue from gas exports now believed to be in banks in Singapore.

“Dealing with a serious outbreak of swine flu or similar illness will be very difficult because of the restrictions on aid delivery and lack of money spent on health by the dictatorship,” said Nang Seng, Campaigns Officer at Burma Campaign UK. “It is time the international community did more to challenge the restrictions on aid, and also to stop the dictatorship looting our country’s wealth and hiding it in foreign bank accounts, while our children go without medicine.”

For more information contact Nang Seng on 020 7324 4710

43 members of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party were released, including three MPs. However, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, her personal assistant U Win Htein and NLD Vice-Chairman U Tin Oo all remain in detention.  No leading opposition figures were released in the amnesty.

AAPP Secretary Tate Naing said, “Important political figures like Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Shan National League for Democracy leader U Khun Tun Oo, 88 Generation Students leader Min Ko Naing and other prominent activists are still in prison, because the regime perceives them as a threat to its absolute power.”

22 women, four monks, and four journalists were released.  The journalists included Eint Khaing Oo and Kyaw Kyaw Thant, arrested for their efforts to help a group of Cyclone Nargis survivors.  Also released were U Peter and Daw Nu Nu Swe, arrested and sentenced to six years imprisonment after they refused to open the door to security forces who were searching for their son, Sithu Maung.  A leader of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, 22 year-old Sithu Maung was arrested at a different location and is currently serving a jail term of 11 years and 6 months in the remote Buthidaung prison for his role in protests in August and September 2007.

“We are happy for those political prisoners released, and for their loved ones.  But from a political perspective, this is just a cynical ploy designed to ease international pressure. There can be no real progress towards democracy in our country until all political prisoners are released,” Tate Naing continued.

According to AAPP, more than 2,000 political prisoners remain in jail, including at least 124 activists who are in poor health.

Since November 2004 there have been a total of six amnesties for prisoners.  According to the ruling State Peace and Development Council’s own figures, 45,732 prisoners were released under those amnesties.  According to AAPP, only 1.3% of them were political prisoners. 

The latest amnesty was expected.  In mid-July the Burmese permanent representative to the U.N., U Than Swe, said the regime was ‘processing to grant amnesty to prisoners on humanitarian grounds’.  U Than Swe’s comments came in response to a briefing given by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on his visit to the country earlier in July.  The amnesty also comes shortly before the opening of this year’s UN General Assembly session to be attended by General Thein Sein, the junta-appointed Prime Minister.

Notes to editors:

·      AAPP can confirm that 127 political prisoners have been released from 24 different prisons in Burma.  The 127 released include 43 members of the National League for Democracy, including 3 MPs; 22 women; 11 former political prisoners; 4 monks; 4 journalists; 13 students; 10 members of the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Network; 5 members of the 88 Generation Students; and 1 lawyer.  The following political prisoners have been released.  The list will be updated at http://www.aappb.org, please check for the latest information: 

1.    Angaelay (Mandalay prison) - student

2.    Aung Gyi (Insein prison) - student

3.    Aung Gyi @ Aung Thwin (Shwebo prison) – journalist, former political prisoner, 88 Generation Students

4.    Aung Ko Oo (Tharawaddy prison) - student

5.    Aung Lwin (Thandwe prison)

6.    Aung Myint (Myaungmya prison) - NLD member; Human Rights Defenders and Promoters member

7.    Aung Myo (Shwebo prison) – NLD Township Organiser

8.    Aung Naing (Insein prison) – NLD member

9.    Aung Naing @ Ba Gyi Aung (Mandalay prison) – NLD member

10. Aung Naing Tun (Monywa prison) – Student

11. Aung Swe (Shwebo prison)  - NLD member

12. Aung Tun (Tharawaddy prison) – student; member of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions

13. Aye Min (a) Aye Min Min (Tharawaddy prison) – private tutor

14. Aye Myint Mar (female) (Monywa prison) - All Burma Students Democratic Front (Western)

15. Ba Chit (Tharawaddy prison) – Ex-captain in the army

16. Ba Min (Kale prison) – NLD member

17. Bo Bo (Myingyan prison)

18. Bo Gyi (Pegu prison)

19. Chan Aung (Monywa prison) - NLD township organiser

20. Chit Thein Tun (Monywa prison) - All Burma Students Democratic Front (Western)

21. Cho Mar Htwe, (Female)  (Moulmein prison) – NLD member

22. Ei (female) (Paungde prison)

23. Eimt Khaing Oo, Female (Insein prison) – journalist; Cyclone Nargis volunteer

24. Hla Shein, (Hinzada prison) , Human Rights Defenders and Promoters

25. Hlaing Aye (Kale prison) - NLD MP, Former Political Prisoner

26. Hnin Hnin (female) (Monywa prison) - All Burma Students Democratic Front (Western)

27. Htay (a) San San Myint, (Female)  (Insein prison)

28. Htay Naing Lin (Monywa prison) - Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Network

29. Htay Win (Thayet prison) – NLD Township Organizer

30. Kay Thi Aung @ Ma Ei (female) (Mandalay prison)

31. Khaing Kaung Zan, (Thayet prison) – Arakan League for Democracy in exile member

32. Khin Khin Lay (a) Khin Lay, (Female)  (Pegu prison) – NLD member

33. Khin Maung Chit (Meiktila prison) - NLD Local Secretary

34. Khin Maung Thein (Shwebo prison) – NLD member

35. Khin Moe Aye (a) Moe Moe (Female), (Myingyan prison) – 88 Generation Students member; former political prisoner

36. Kyaw Kyaw Thant (Insein prison) – journalist; Cyclone Nargis volunteer

37. Kyaw Lwin, (Hinzada prison) , Human Rights Defenders and Promoters

38. Kyaw Maung (Myitkyina prison) – NLD MP

39. Kyaw Thu Htike (Taunggyi prison)

40. Kyaw Win (Tharawaddy prison) – All Burma Students Democratic Front

41. Kyi Kyi Min, (Female)  (Insein prison) – NLD member

42. Kyi Lin (Myintkyina prison) – NLD member

43. Maung Maung Htwe (Shwebo prison)

44. Maung Maung Twin (Mandalay prison)

45. Maw Si (Shwebo prison) – NLD Youth member

46. Mi Mi Sein, (Female)  (Insein prison) – NLD Township Joint-Secretary

47. Mi Mi Swe (female) (Henzada prison)

48. Michael Win Kyaw (Kale prison) – 88 Generation Students member; former political prisoner

49. Min Min (a) La Min Tun, (Hinzada prison) , Human Rights Defenders and Promoters

50. Min Min Soe (Myingyan prison) – 88 Generation Students member

51. Moe Hlaing (Moulmein prison)

52. Moe Kyaw Thu (a) Bo Bo (Mandalay prison)

53. Moe Lwin (Moulmein prison) – individual activist

54. Monywar Aung Shin (a) U Aye Kyu (Insein prison) - Member of NLD and poet

55. Mya Sein, (Hinzada prison) , Human Rights Defenders and Promoters

56. Myint Oo (a) Ni Ni (Mandalay prison) – NLD Township organizer; former political prisoner

57. Myint Oo (Thayet prison) – NLD Township Joint Secretary

58. Myint, (Hinzada prison) , Human Rights Defenders and Promoters

59. Myo Min Lwin (Moulmein prison)

60. Myo Min Tun (Monywa prison) – Student

61. Myo Yan Naung Thein (Thandwe prison) – 88 Generation Students member, former political prisoner

62. Nay Win (Myintkyina prison) – NLD Township Organizer

63. Ni Ni May Myint (Buthidaung prison) - NLD Youth

64. Nine Nine (Insein prison) – NLD MP, Former Political Prisoner

65. Nu Nu Swe @ Pauk Pauk (female) (Myaungmya prison)

66. Nyi Nyi Min (Buthidaung prison) – NLD member

67. Nyo Mya (Kale prison) – NLD member

68. Pe Tin (Pegu prison) – NLD member

69. Peter (Loikaw prison)

70. Pyae Phyo Aung (a) Hnan Mue (Pa-An prison)

71. San Pwint (Kale prison) – NLD member; teacher

72. San Ya (Tharawaddy prison) – NLD member

73. San Yi (Insein prison)

74. Sandar, (Female)  (Myingyan prison) – NLD member

75. Saw Myo Min Hlaing @ James (Thaton prison) - Private Tutor

76. Saw Oo Kyar (Mandalay prison)

77. Saw Taw Kyi (Thayet prison) – Karen National Union member

78. Shin Sandaw Batha, Monk (Insein prison) – All Burma Young Monks Union

79. Shwe Thar (a) Tin Win (Tharawaddy prison) – Karen National Union member

80. Soe Han (Lashio prison) – lawyer; Chair of the National League for Democracy’s (NLD) legal advisory body

81. Soe Moe Naing @ Ngone (Mandalay) – Democratic Party for a New Society

82. Soe Wai (a) Than Zaw (Myitkyina prison)

83. Than Min (a) Tin Tun Aung, (Taungoo prison) – NLD member

84. Than Than Htay, (Female)  (Insein prison) – student

85. Than Than Sint, (Female)  (Insein prison)

86. Than Tun (Shwebo prison)

87. Than Tun Lay (Myingyan prison) – Individual activist

88. Than Zaw Oo (Tharawaddy prison) – NLD member

89. Thar Cho, (Thayet prison) – NLD Township Organizer

90. Thein Zaw (Tharawaddy prison)

91. Thet Oo (Taungoo prison) – Human Rights Defenders and Promoters member

92. Thet Zin (a) Maung Zin (Kale prison) – journalist; former political prisoner; member of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions and the Democratic Party for a New Society

93. Thin Min Soe, (Female)  (Insein prison) – labour activist

94. Thura Win @ Thura Lin (Buthidaung) – Student

95. Tin Mar Swe (female) (Mandalay prison)

96. Tin Maung Nyunt (Shwebo prison) – NLD Township Organiser

97. Tin Mya (Insein prison) - National League for Democracy Township chairperson, Former Political Prisoner

98. Tin Myint (Insein prison) – NLD member

99. Tin Myint (Tharawaddy prison)

100.      Tin Myo Htut (a) Kyaw Oo (Insein prison) – Generation Wave; former political prisoner

101.      Tin San (Monywa prison)

102.      Tin Tin Myint, (Female) (Insein prison) – third year chemistry student

103.      Tin Tun (a) Kyaw Swa (Tharawaddy prison) – UN Development Program staff (New Era journal distributor)

104.      Tint San, (Monywa prison) - former political prisoner

105.      Tun Hla (Tharawaddy prison)

106.      Tun Min Aung (Kawthaung prison)

107.      Tun Oo (a) Ngar Kalar (Taungoo prison)

108.      Tun Tun Nyein, (Thayet prison) – NLD Youth member

109.      Tun Tun Oo (a) Nanda Malar (Taungoo prison) – monk

110.      Tun Tun Oo (Thandwe prison)

111.      U Han Sein (Tharawaddy prison) – NLD member

112.      U Pannita (a) Myint Aye (Taungoo prison) – monk; Human Rights Defenders and Promoters member

113.      U Zawana (a) Soe Myint (Taungoo prison) - monk

114.      Win, (Hinzada prison) , Human Rights Defenders and Promoters

115.      Win Maw @ Tut Pe (Kale prison) - NLD member

116.      Win Myint (Insein prison)

117.      Wunna Soe (Pa-An prison) – Democratic Party for a New Society member

118.      Yan Aung Shwe (Thayet prison) – All Burma Students Democratic Front member

119.      Yan Kyaw Soe @ Shwe Thway (Monywa prison) – NLD member

120.      Yan Naing Min (a) Nan Wai (Mandalay prison) – student

121.      Yar Zar @ Tun Lin Oo (Monywa prison) – NLD member

122.      Ye Thiha @ Soe Thein (Insein prison) – All Burma Students Democratic Front

123.      Zaw Htet Aung (Kale prison) - student

124.      Zaw Lin Tun (a) Phu Zaw (Monywa prison) - All Burma Students Democratic Front (Western)

125.      Zaw Tun (Taungoo prison)

126.      Zin Hninn Aye @ Zin Mar (female) (Mandalay prison) - Second year chemistry student

127.      Zin Mar Aung (female) (Mandalay prison) – student; NLD member

·      According to the SPDC’s publicly released figures, a total of 45,732 prisoners have been released in six separate amnesties since November 2004.  According to AAPP figures, 588 (or 1.3%) of them were political prisoners.

·      In February 2009, 6,313 prisoners were released.  31 of them were political prisoners.

·      In September 2008, 9,002 prisoners were released.  9 of them were political prisoners.

·      In November 2007, 8,585 prisoners were released.  20 of them were political prisoners.

·      In July 2005, around 400 prisoners were released.  341 of them were political prisoners.

·      In November and December 2004, 14,318 prisoners were released.  60 of them were political prisoners.

·      On June 10 2008, Kyaw Kyaw Thant and Eint Khaing Oo brought some cyclone survivors from Hlaing Thar Yar Township to the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Rangoon. In the ICRC office, they helped translate for the cyclone survivors who complained about the neglect of the regime and requested assistance from the ICRC. While they were on the way to UNDP office, they were all arrested. The cyclone survivors were later released later, but the two journalists have been held in detention since then. The authorities also accused them of taking photographs of the damage done by Cyclone Nargis and sending them to foreign media (AAPP Cyclone Nargis Anniversary Report, published 1 May 2009).

We Oppose the Military Regime’s Use of Violence against Ethnic Nationalities, and Demand That the Regime Stops Forcibly Enacting of the 2008 Constitution, Which Is Not accepted by the People of Burma——through the 2010 Election

(1) The battles that occurred in Kokang Region of Shan State in late August clearly highlighted the insincere attitude of the regime over the ceasefire agreement between it and ethnic revolutionary groups, which lasted over 20 years. Furthermore, by attacking and defeating Kokang troops and occupying the Kokang Region, the regime has threatened other ceasefire groups to choose one of the two options, “subordinate to the regime, or being defeated”.

(2) Building peace requires mutual respect and trust, as well as basic sincerity, understanding, discussion and compromise with patience among the parties concerned. All parties concerned must take responsibility to keep the existing peace. The eruption of violence in the Kokang Region abundantly demonstrated that the Burmese military regime has unilaterally abolished the ceasefire agreements, and that it has willingness to use force in solving political problems and ethnic national affairs, instead of working through a peaceful dialogue.

(3) The regime has been pressuring all ethnic ceasefire groups to abandon their troops and prepare to participate in the 2010 election. However, most of the ceasefire groups have refused to abandon their armed forces and are reluctant to participate in the election.

(4) The ethnic ceasefire groups refuse to abandon their troops and join in the election because the regime’s 2008 Constitution fails to grantee the fundamental rights of ethnic nationalities and equality among all. Therefore, the National League for Democracy, United Nationalities Alliance, and ethnic revolutionary forces have demanded that the regime reviews and revises the Constitution to really grant the fundamental rights of ethnic nationalities, equality among all, democracy and human rights.

(5) While the whole people of Burma have refused to accept the 2008 Constitution, written unilaterally by the regime and approved by force, the regime uses violence, threats, bullying tactic and arbitrary arrest to put the Constitution into effect through its 2010 elections. We demand that the regime stops these abuses immediately.

(6) We also demand that the regime releases all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally, announces a nationwide ceasefire and stops preparation for war. We also call on the regime to start a meaningful and time-bound dialogue with the National League for Democracy, led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and ethnic representatives. This is the best way to solve Burma’s problems, including politic, economic, social and ethnic nationality affairs, peacefully.

(7) The use of violence by the regime destroyed the peace and broke stability and security in the region. The continued pressure and attacks by the regime against ethnic ceasefire groups will increase the loss of lives, lands, and personal belongings of ethnic nationals, and create more instability and insecurity in the region. The regime’s current policy towards the ceasefire groups will lead to more human rights violations and more refugees. 

(8) Hence, we will continue to work together with all the people of Burma for emergence of democracy and human rights, as well as equality among all ethnic nationalities, and self-determination.

At the same time, we seriously appeal to the international Community, including countries in the region, and especially the United Nations Security Council, to effectively intervene in our country in time to stop the violence and unilateral acts pursued by the Burmese military regime, and to realize peaceful negotiation among all parties concerned.

All Burma Monks’ Alliance
The 88 Generation Students
All Burma Federation of Student Unions
Rangoon, Burma