Amnesty Int'l pushes Myanmar to free all political prisoners

The international organisation launched a free-prisoner campaign today, following repeated calls from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) and the Former Political Prisoners Society (FPPS).

“Myanmar’s government is trying to spin an alternate reality where all is rosy for human rights, which the international community is far too eager to accept. The reality on the ground could not be more different. Authorities have intensified a chilling crackdown on freedom of expression over the past year,” Laura Haigh, Amnesty International’s Myanmar researcher, said in a briefing.

“The numbers speak for themselves – we believe that almost 100 peaceful activists are currently detained, while hundreds more are facing charges. President Thein Sein must immediately free all prisoners of conscience and put an end to the repressive practices that fuel arbitrary arrests.”

Amnesty International said repression has drastically picked up pace over the past two years. Citing that at least 91 prisoners of conscience are behind bars, it said this is a dramatic increase from two at the end of 2013. The clampdown has affected a range of people perceived as “threats” to the government, including human-rights defenders, lawyers, opposition activists, students, trade unionists and journalists.

It also documented a marked surge in repression as the election draws closer. Peaceful activists have more often been charged with offences without bail and kept in pre-trial detention for extended periods, while prison sentences have become longer, it said.

“Myanmar authorities have clearly been playing a long game ahead of the elections, with repression picking up pace at least nine months before the campaigning period started in September. Their goal has been straightforward – take ‘undesirable’ voices off the streets way ahead of the elections and make sure they’re not heard,” Haigh added.

A month before the election, the organisation called on the Myanmar government to immediately and unconditionally release all prisoners of conscience; drop pending charges against those who have simply exercised their rights peacefully; and repeal or amend all laws that violate human rights. It also urged the international community to step up efforts to push Thein Sein to release all political prisoners.

“World leaders cannot take Myanmar’s claims to have ended repression at face value. The election offers a crucial opportunity for governments to make clear to Myanmar’s authorities that locking up and silencing peaceful critics is unacceptable. It’s an opportunity that mustn’t be missed,” Haigh said.

Working on the ground, AAPP and FPPS issued a statement on September 29, calling for the release of all political prisoners ahead of the election and the signing of a national ceasefire agreement. They said that detention through these historic events would only serve to further obstruct Myanmar’s progression to peace and democracy. All political parties, MPs and ethnic armed organisations are urged to pressure the Myanmar government in ending oppression and releasing political prisoners.