ID :
26260
Fri, 10/24/2008 - 00:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/26260
The shortlink copeid
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP SEEKS RELEASE OF MYANMAR POLITICAL PRISONERS By D. Arul Rajoo
BANGKOK, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- With pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi marking
her 13th year in detention Friday, a human rights group wants Myanmar's
neighbours and allies such as China, India and Asean to secure the immediate and
unconditional release of the Nobel Peace laureate and 178 other women political
prisoners.
The Alternative Asean Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma) said that as the
military junta's gross mismanagement and oppression further entrenched Myanmar
as a failed state, it was in the region's interest that durable solutions were
achieved.
It said the meaningful involvement of Suu Kyi and other political
stakeholders, including ethnic nationality groups, was essential to such
solutions.
"She has been in and out of detention since she was first arrested in
1989,
subjected to harsher conditions than most 'normal' prisoners in jail. Yet, she
remains committed to a peaceful, political solution that is needed now more than
ever for the people of Burma (Myanmar)," said the network of human rights
organisations, political parties, academics, journalists and student activists.
The 63-year-old Suu Kyi became secretary-general of the National League for
Democracy (NLD) in 1988 and was first put under house arrest in 1989. She tasted
freedom for a short period and was rearrested on several occasions.
On May 27 this year, the military junta extended her house arrest by
another year and indicated that she could be detained up to Nov 27 2009 under
the 1975 State Protection Law. She is not the only woman political prisoner in
Myanmar.
As of this month, there were another 178 women prisoners of conscience
known to be incarcerated in intolerable conditions in Myanmar's prisons for
their political activities and leadership.
ALTSEAN-Burma said the number has more than tripled since August 2006 when
there were 53 female political prisoners, adding that during the Saffron
Revolution in September 2007 more than 157 women, 10 of them nuns, were
detained.
"Nineteen women disappeared. Ponnami, an 80-year-old nun at the
Thitsatharaphu Monastery, partially paralysed by a stroke, was arrested and
defrocked, accused of "causing offence to the Buddhist religion", and remains
incarcerated," it said.
Detention conditions in prisons across Myanmar continue to be extremely
poor, the movement said, and pointed out the junta's move to prevent the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from carrying out prison visits
since December 2005.
"The release of women political prisoners as part of several mass releases
of prisoners has been a welcome development. Unfortunately, releases do not
signify increasing political freedom for women, as they continue to face arrest
and imprisonment for their political participation and opinions," it
said.
-- BERNAMA
her 13th year in detention Friday, a human rights group wants Myanmar's
neighbours and allies such as China, India and Asean to secure the immediate and
unconditional release of the Nobel Peace laureate and 178 other women political
prisoners.
The Alternative Asean Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma) said that as the
military junta's gross mismanagement and oppression further entrenched Myanmar
as a failed state, it was in the region's interest that durable solutions were
achieved.
It said the meaningful involvement of Suu Kyi and other political
stakeholders, including ethnic nationality groups, was essential to such
solutions.
"She has been in and out of detention since she was first arrested in
1989,
subjected to harsher conditions than most 'normal' prisoners in jail. Yet, she
remains committed to a peaceful, political solution that is needed now more than
ever for the people of Burma (Myanmar)," said the network of human rights
organisations, political parties, academics, journalists and student activists.
The 63-year-old Suu Kyi became secretary-general of the National League for
Democracy (NLD) in 1988 and was first put under house arrest in 1989. She tasted
freedom for a short period and was rearrested on several occasions.
On May 27 this year, the military junta extended her house arrest by
another year and indicated that she could be detained up to Nov 27 2009 under
the 1975 State Protection Law. She is not the only woman political prisoner in
Myanmar.
As of this month, there were another 178 women prisoners of conscience
known to be incarcerated in intolerable conditions in Myanmar's prisons for
their political activities and leadership.
ALTSEAN-Burma said the number has more than tripled since August 2006 when
there were 53 female political prisoners, adding that during the Saffron
Revolution in September 2007 more than 157 women, 10 of them nuns, were
detained.
"Nineteen women disappeared. Ponnami, an 80-year-old nun at the
Thitsatharaphu Monastery, partially paralysed by a stroke, was arrested and
defrocked, accused of "causing offence to the Buddhist religion", and remains
incarcerated," it said.
Detention conditions in prisons across Myanmar continue to be extremely
poor, the movement said, and pointed out the junta's move to prevent the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from carrying out prison visits
since December 2005.
"The release of women political prisoners as part of several mass releases
of prisoners has been a welcome development. Unfortunately, releases do not
signify increasing political freedom for women, as they continue to face arrest
and imprisonment for their political participation and opinions," it
said.
-- BERNAMA
