AAPP’s alternative to the regime’s so-called ‘Road Map to Democracy’

Step One:  The regime must publicly acknowledge the very existence of political prisoners, something it has consistently denied.

Step Two: The regime must release the 137 estimated political prisoners in bad health.

Step Three: The regime must allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to resume its impartial mandate to inspect prisons, suspended since early 2006 because the regime wanted to accompany ICRC staff during their confidential interviews with prisoners.

Step Four: The regime must cease the practice of prison transfers to remote jails, and return all political prisoners to facilities in their home towns, to allow family members to visit easily.

Step Five: The regime must unconditionally release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.  She has repeatedly stressed the importance of political dialogue to bring about national reconciliation in Burma.

Step Six: The regime must publicly declare a concrete timeframe for the release of all political prisoners before the end of 2009.

Step Seven: The regime must allow all political prisoners and former political prisoners to freely participate in the country’s democratization process, without restrictions.  This should include participation in a review of the 2008 constitution; dialogue for national reconciliation; and the right to stand in independently-monitored free and fair elections.

Seven Steps to Freedom – AAPP’s alternative road map to democracy

Rachel Fleming
Campaign Co-ordinator
Free Burma’s Political Prisoners Now!
www.fbppn.net
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)