Leave No Political Prisoners in Burma¹s Jails

Take action to free those who remain.

Courtesy: irrawaddy.org

(LONDON) - Take action to free Aung Hmine San, Than Htike, Min Naing Lwin and Thein Aung Myint! No Political Prisoners must be left behind in Burma’s jails!

Activists in Burma still face harassment and arrest by the military-backed government in Burma despite the limited reform process in the country.

Aung Hmine San, Than Htike, Min Naing Lwin and Thein Aung Myint are activists who have been standing up for genuine freedom and democracy in Burma. They were arrested for participating in a monk-led protest against the violent crackdown at the Letpadaung copper mine in December 2012.

Protests were started in June by a group of farmers demanding compensation for land confiscations and the suspension of the copper mine near Monywa, in central Burma. The Letpadaung project is a joint venture between China’s Wan Bao Company and the military-owned Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd, which has resulted in land confiscations and environmental degradation. To support local people, monks and other activists later joined the protests but the military-backed government violently cracked down on the protesters in November.

These four activists were arrested under Article 18(b) of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law. They were given bail but they refused as they believe that the law which they have been charged under is undemocratic and inequitable. They have been detained in Mandalay Obo prison and are currently facing trial.

Please email British Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire MP asking him to take action to secure the immediate release of Aung Hmine San, Than Htike, Min Naing Lwin,Thein Aung Myint and for the release of all of Burma’s remaining political prisoners:
 
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/campaigns/actions/free-political-prisoners/free-political-prisoners <http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/campaigns/actions/free-political-prisoners/free-political-prisoners>

Thank you.
Wai Hnin

PS: Even if you have written to the Minister before, please write a letter again for each political prisoner. We need to keep up the pressure.