Communique

The Federal Shan Government is pleased to announce that on December 17, 2011, the President of Federal Shan Government His Royal Highness Sao Hso-khan-pha of Yawnghwe had a very productive meeting with General N’ Banla, Chairman of the UNFC who affirmed the unity of the Nationalities in the fight against the Burmese Military Regime.

The meeting was attended by:-

1.      Gen. N’Banla, Chairman of UNFC (United Nationalities Federal Council)

2.      Maj. Gen. Gauri Zau Seng, Vice Chairman, KIO

3.      Col. Dr. La Ja, Secretary General, KIO

4.       Col. Sai Htoo, General Secretary 2 of SSPP (Shan State Progress Party).

Discussions included a joint cooperation in our endeavour to implement common goals to expel the Burmese invasion and occupation forces.

In addition, we also discussed the collaboration between the Kachin and Shan peoples on the following issues:-

1.      The unconditional release of all political prisoners immediately.

2.      Withdrawal of the regime’s military forces from all territories of ethnic Nationalities.

3.      To immediately cease all Human Rights abuses against the civilian population.

4.      To uphold the five principles of peaceful co-existence with all our neighbours.

Finally, we  agreed to participate in the peace and reconciliation process as proposed by President Barack Obama of the United States of America.

HRH Sao Hso-khan-pha

President of Federal Shan Government

December 19, 2011
Federated Shan States

Statement on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

25 November 2011

“End Militarism to Eliminate Violence Against Women”

On 17 December, 1999, the 83rd Session of the 54th United Nations General Assembly designated the 25th of November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women by Resolution 54/134.

On International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Women’s League of Burma (WLB) appeals to the people of Burma to participate in the struggle that will bring peace and an end to the militarism in Burma.

Women and girls in Burma are suffering physical, mental and sexual violence in their homes, in their communities and by the State on daily basis. WLB holds the firm belief that all the forms of violence against women in ethnic areas, including rape and killings, are a direct result of militarism.

The Burma military raped 81 women and girls – 36 of whom they killed – during the 8 month-long armed conflict between the Burmese army and the ethnic armed groups in Shan and Kachin States, after the collapse of ceasefire agreements, as reported by Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN) and Kachin Women’s Association-Thailand (KWAT), 2011. Given the status of violence against women in ethnic areas, it is evident that the army of the President Thein Sein’s government is still using rape as a weapon of war exactly as the armies of the previous regimes of SLORC and SPDC.

We welcome the reports that the government held cease-fire talks with delegations from the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Shan State Army (SSA-South) recently. We urge the government to continue the talks with other ethnic armed groups including Kachin, in order to move forward with a genuine political dialogue.

As women and children suffer the most during wartime and armed conflict, it is imperative that women’s voices are heard at every peace talk. The WLB is thrilled that Naw Zipporah Sein was included as a female member of KNU’s peace talk delegation. Women participants need to be included and participate in other ethnic delegations’ peace talks.

We welcome the 2011 UNGA resolution, which suggests that human rights violations including rape and other forms of sexual violence against women in Burma remain to be addressed. The Burmese regime, however, has successively continued to neglect the previous over 30 resolutions. We therefore would like to appeal to the United Nations and international community to take greater effective action against the Burmese government to implement the resolution.

The WLB would like to request Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to take into account the regime’s use of sexual violence against women as a weapon of war when striving for rule of law, internal peace and constitutional reforms. We also would like to appeal to her to initiate the establishment of a federal union based on political equality for every ethnic nationality in Burma.

In Burma, women make up half of the total population. We therefore would like to encourage all ethnic women to unite and work together in the struggle for sustainable peace and an end of militarism that has gravely impacted the women of Burma.

For further information;

Saw San Nyreim Thu – +66 (0) 80 79 20 445

Jan Moon Nayli – +66 (0) 85 6251 912

Lway Nway Hnoung – +66 (0) 82 1648 115

–

Mark Farmaner

Director

Burma Campaign UK
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London
N1 6HT

Mobile: 0794 123 9640
Tel: 00 44 (0)207 324 4713
Fax: 00 44 (0)207 324 4717

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KAREN NATIONAL UNION

KAWTHOOLEI

www.karennationalunion.net

KNU Statement on Peace Talks

Recent media reports thatthe Karen National Union (KNU) had agreed to a ceasefire with the Burmese regime, along with several other ethnic organizations, was false. The KNU team of 3 representatives had had just an informal meeting with the regime’s Railway Transport Minister, U Aung Min, to sound out the regime’s position on ceasefire and to explain the position of the KNU on the same matter.

Following the current political circumstances, the KNU held an emergency meeting of the Central Committee from the 8^th to the 11^th of November and discussed the Burmese regime’s overture for ceasefire and peace talks. The KNU leaders attending the meeting decided that political negotiations were best suited to the current political circumstances. The KNU therefore formed a ‘committee for the emergence of peace’ with the mandate to lead the whole process of talks.

This committee isto select a delegation for talks as necessary, plan for and oversee the whole process, analyze the developments and coordinate the whole negotiation process for appropriate achievement of the objectives. The committee is comprised of seven members, as follows.

1.     Saw David Tharckabaw –Vice Presidentof KNU,(Head of the committee);

2.     Naw Zipporah Sein –General Secretary ofKNU,(Committee member);

3.     General Mutu Say Poe – General Officer Commanding of KNLA, (Deputy Head of the committee);

4.     Padoh Roger Khin – Head of Health and Welfare Department cum KNU CC member,(Committee member);

5.     Padoh Ah Toe – Head of Forestry Department cum KNU CC member,(Committee member);

6.     Padoh David Taw – Head of Judiciary Department cum KNU CC member,(Secretary of the committee); and

7.     Padoh Aung Maw Aye – Chairman of Pa-an District cum CC member,(Committee member).

The committee has yet to discuss further for official communications and talks for ceasefire. Although individual ethnic organizations will organize for informal and preliminary meetings with representatives of the Burmese regime, the political solutions shall be discussed and sought through collective effort and representation of the ethnic nationalities. Cooperation with our ethnic alliances, including the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) and National Democratic Front (NDF) on political and military affairs, exists as ever.

Although KNU is willing to resolve the political problems through negotiations, it is dependent on the seriousness and willingness of the Burmese regime to resolvethe political problems correctly based on productive and genuine political dialogue and progress.

The KNU will uphold the Four Principles of Saw Ba U Gyi and maintain its policies and programs laid down by the 14^th KNU Congress. The KNU is also determined to stand firmly and speak for the entire Karen nation.

November 24, 2011

Supreme Headquarters

Karen National Union

—
Zoya Phan
Campaigns Manager
Burma Campaign UK
28 Charles Square
London
N1 6HT

Direct Tel: 020 7324 4712
Main Office: 020 7324 4710
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Email: zoya.phan@burmacampaign.org.uk
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–

For Immediate Release: 22^nd November 2011

63% of Families Lose Land and Livelihoods to Destructive Development and Land Grabs in the Ta’ang area

A new report released by Ta’ang Students and Youth Organization (TSYO) estimates that 63% of farming families have lost their land to confiscation by the Burmese military and their cronies. Despite much-publicized political “reforms” in the country, the authorities have refused to stop land confiscation, causing more threats to families’ livelihoods and food security.

The report ‘Grabbing Land: Destructive Development in the Ta’ang Area’ exposes shocking realities and impacts of land confiscation in the Ta’ang area of Northern Shan State and shows how contradictory Burmese land laws are manipulated to enable the military-led Government to oppress and abuse its people and grab their land at will. The Burmese Government also fails to adhere to the international legal framework of Housing Land and Property Rights in Burma.

Mai Parn La co-author of TSYO’s report says ‘Corrupt local authorities have for many years been misusing laws by stripping people of their land and livelihood under so-called ‘orders’ with complete disregard for justice and fairness. More than 63% of families surveyed have already been affected and the land confiscations are still going on. If it does not stop, Ta’ang people will have nowhere left to live or grow food. ’

The report points to the massive development projects taking place in Northern Shan State as the main reasons behind the Land Confiscation namely: Three Shweli Hydropower Dams, the Shwe Gas and Oil Pipelines and the China-Myanmar Railway Transportation project. In addition increased militarization, continued corruption, road expansion in Namhsan and Kyat Suu projects in the area have led to a subsequent rise in human rights violations suffered by the Ta’ang people (also known as Palaung) from the Burmese Military.

TSYO have documented that approximately 42,940 acres of land has been confiscated and estimates that over 8,588 families have been affected by land confiscation. These numbers are set to rise even further as development projects progress. The impacts to the Ta’ang people are devastating; they have lost their lands, homes and livelihoods and have received inadequate or no compensation for their losses. The majority of the benefits from the projects will not be for the local people but will be given to neighbouring China. The victims of land confiscation are not consulted about their fate; they are simply ordered to move.

The lives of Ta’ang people have been shattered as this victim of land confiscation explains: “I am so sad because after they confiscated our farm three days ago my wife died. And also two of my sons are very sad and don’t want to stay at home after the death of their mother, they left home. Two of my daughters who attend high school have had to drop out from their school. We only had the farm. We don’t have experience to do other jobs so it is very difficult for us to find another job’

TSYO calls for the Burmese Government to respect the Housing, Land and Property Rights of its people, to end human rights violations, for the Government and foreign development companies to have more transparency and accountability about these projects as well as securing informed consent from the people affected from the projects. TSYO call the Burmese Government should enter into genuine and constructive dialogue with ethnic leaders.

Further Information: The full report can be viewed at www.palaungland.org www.palaungwomen.com

TSYO Contact: Mai Parn La 0 80 84 16 297

Lway Phoo Reang 080 058 0720

Mai Aung Ko 0801184479

Please find attached 2 statements on Harn Yawnghwe’s visit to Burma.

1110HYStatement
ADDBEBOStatement Visit
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Euro-Burma Office
Square Gutenberg 11/2
1000 Brussels, Belgium

Tel: (32 2) 280 0691 / 280 2452
Fax: (32 2) 280 0310
Email: bxl@euro-burma.be

Website: www.euro-burma.eu

The aim of the Euro-Burma Office is to promote the development of democracy in Burma by assisting the Burmese democracy movement to prepare for a transition to democracy.

Nationalities Brotherhood Forum’s most recent statement (No.6/2011)
If you would like to be removed from or added to this list, please email bxl@euro-burma.be.

Euro-Burma Office
Square Gutenberg 11/2
1000 Brussels, Belgium

Tel: (32 2) 280 0691 / 280 2452
Fax: (32 2) 280 0310
Email: bxl@euro-burma.be

Website: www.euro-burma.eu

The aim of the Euro-Burma Office is to promote the development of democracy in Burma by assisting the Burmese democracy movement to prepare for a transition to democracy.

At the oath taking ceremony for assuming presidential duties, President U Thein Sein said that he would endeavor for national unity and the growth of the union spirit, which was true nationalism. On August 18, the government made overture for peace talk with the Union Government Statement Number 1/ 2011. These moves are indications of willingness to build national unity by the new government, led by U Thein Sein.

In spite of these facts, the successive governments in power, after independence, give special privileges to the ethnic Burmans, subordinate the other ethnic nationalities to domination of the ethnic Burmans and seize the natural resources in the non-Burman nationalities’ lands, in addition to suppressing their languages, literatures and cultures, by various means. Because of these injustices, the national unity is in ruin.

From 1963 to 2010, the ethnic organizations had met with the governments in power on several occasions. However, the military governments in power had endeavored only for disarming and dissolution of the ethnic armies without any dialogue for political settlement. In this way, the civil war has dragged on without end. Because of the long war, the country has lagged behind in development and the people have to face extreme difficulty.

While making a political move of the overture for peace talk, the new government has launched massive, military offensives, since a few months back, against our UNFC members the SSPP/SSA, which represents the Shan people and the KIO/KIA, which represents the Kachin people.

Because of the offensives, battles are raging up to this day and the local populations have become war refugees and part of collateral damages of the war. Accordingly, the call for dialogue on the one hand and launching massive military offensives on the other, have caused serious doubt as to whether the overture for dialogue is out of good intentions. The government offensives are in support of the large-scale foreign investments and the killing of one another for them, among the people, has caused extreme distress for us. We must regard with grave cautiousness some forces, which keep saying callously that great changes are starting to take place in the time of this government.

11th Day of Thadingyut Waxing Moon, 1374                         Central Executive Committee
October 8, 2011                                                                      United Nationalities Federal Council

UNFC-State

KAREN NATIONAL UNION

KAWTHOOLEI

www.karennationalunion.net

KNU Statement on Bombing near Capital of Burma’s Dictators

Date : 19/5/2011

1. In an Agence France Press (AFP) report, datelined May 18, a bomb blast killed two and wounded seven civilians near billion-dollar, custom-built capital (Naypyitaw) of Burma’s military dictators and military controlled dictatorship government headed by former general, President Thein Sein. Without hesitation, a Thein Sein government’s official accused the KNU of being responsible for the blast.

1. We, the KNU, categorically reject accusation of the official, as the KNU has no policy of letting members of its armed wing, the KNLA, to engage in heinous acts of harming or killing civilians. Even in the frontline, the KNLA troops have to follow strict orders not to cause casualty to the civilians, who are regularly used by the Burma Army troops as human shields and forced labour.

1. It is very likely that the bombing was the plot of the dictatorship itself in a dastardly attempt to point fingers at the KNU, while an important US official was on a visit to the capital. It could also be the work of members of a clique within the Burma armed forces, which is against the dictatorship. It is clearly impossible for the outsiders to carry out such an act in places near the capital, which are under tight security, constantly.

1. It has been the policy of the previous Burma military dictatorships as well as the present military controlled one to use its army troops to commit gross human rights violations and crimes against humanity, especially against the ethnic civilian populations.

1. In their suppression drives against the resistance forces in the ethnic areas, the Burma army troops regularly perpetrate forced labour, forced relocation, extortion, looting of properties, burning down villages – destruction of farms, orchards, plantations, food stocks etc. – arbitrary arrest, torture, extrajudicial killing – planting landmines indiscriminately in the foot paths, villages etc. – assassination and, rape of women and underage girls.

1. It is time the military controlled Thein Sein dictatorship stopped devious attempts to divert international and domestic attention away from its policy of ethnic genocide. In conclusion, we call on it to engage with the ethnic and democratic forces for meaningful dialogue and national reconciliation, and walk on the path to genuine democracy, federalism and durable peace.

Supreme Headquarters

Karen National Union

18^th May 2011

On 13^th March 2011 the dictatorship in Burma broke a 22 year long ceasefire agreement with the Shan State Army – North. 3,500 Burmese Army soldiers took part in a military offensive in north-central Shan State, an area with a population of 100,000. Sixty-five clashes were reported in the first three weeks of the dictatorship breaking the ceasefire. Civilians are being targeted in the military offensive, with mortar bombs fired at civilian villages. Abuses committed by the Burmese Army include arbitrary execution, arbitrary detention, torture, looting, rape, forced relocation and forced labour. These abuses are violations of international law. Since breaking the ceasefire, abuses continue on a daily basis.

Under the new 2008 Constitution, the Burmese Army is the only permitted armed organisation allowed in the country. The organisations with ceasefire agreements took part in the National Convention which drafted the principles of the Constitution. Every single one of their proposals which would grant some level of autonomy to ethnic states, and protection for ethnic rights and culture, were rejected by the dictatorship.

The breaking of the ceasefire with Shan State Army – North on 13^th March is the third time in the past two years the dictatorship has broken a ceasefire agreement. It is also threatening to break all other ceasefire agreements. This would lead to large scale conflict from Mon State, Karen State, and Karenni State, to Shan State and Kachin State. The result would be a major humanitarian crisis and a massive escalation in human rights abuses against civilians, as the Burmese Army targets civilians in conflict.

The European Union has repeatedly stated that dialogue is the way to solve political problems in Burma. All armed ethnic organisations in Burma, those on ceasefire, and those not, are willing to enter into dialogue. The dictatorship, however, is once again using violence and military force rather than dialogue. It is also deliberately targeting civilians.

Abuses Committed Against Civilians:

The Shan Human Rights Foundation has documented the serious human rights abuses being committed by the Burmese Army in Shan State since it broke the ceasefire.  These include:

Shelling of civilians:

On 13^th March the Burmese Army fired mortars at Wan Nam Lao village, hitting a temple and killing four novice monks and injuring two other villagers. In another attack 11 villagers were injured by mortars.

Forced labour:

Villagers are commonly being forced to act as porters and guides for the Burmese Army. They are made to carry military equipment and food supplies. In one instance on 18^th March 50 women were forced to carry military supplies to Loi Larn mountain for the Burmese Army.

Forced Relocation:

200 families in four villages in Kun Hing Township were told to move to a new village or face their villages being burnt down.

Looting:

Burmese Army soldiers have been looting food, livestock, medicines, blankets, money, cars, and other valuables from villagers. They have also taken farmers oxcarts for transport. On some occasions food that cannot be carried away is destroyed rather than being left behind for villagers.

Arbitrary Detention:

Ten youths from Nam Lao village were tied up and detained at a house by soldiers from the Burmese Army. They were accused of not reporting SSA-N troop movements.

Torture:

The most common form of torture used by the Burmese Army has been severe beatings. One woman in Kesi Township was tied up for a week as punishment for her brother allegedly leading an attack against the Burmese Army. One boy tortured was just 16 years old and was reportedly covered in blood.

Human Shields:

In some cases those people used as forced labour are used as human shields, being made to walk in front, in the middle, and behind the Burmese Army soldiers, to prevent attacks on them, as they know the Shan State Army – North does not want to injure civilians.

Gang-Rape:

Several cases of gang rape by Burmese Army soldiers have already been reported. On 21st March in Nam Lao village, Nang M, a 30 year-old woman, was gang raped by a large number of soldiers. She died immediately after being gang-raped. Another woman was gang-raped in the same village on the same day.

Two women from Wan Pa Tab village were also raped, the exact date is not yet known.

On 23^rd March Burmese Army troops from Light Infantry Battalion 291 and Infantry Battalion 33 gang-raped Nang B on a road outside her village. She is 19 years old.

On March 26^th a 25 year-old mute woman from Wan Mai Kai village was gang-raped by soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion 147.

Arbitrary Execution:

On 19^th March 2011 the Burmese Army accused Sai Ar, a 28 year-old mute, of assisting Shan troops, and shot him dead.

We urge the European Union to issue a public statement calling on the dictatorship in Burma to end the use of military force to solve political problems, to end the attacks in Shan State, and for the European Union to also call for a nationwide ceasefire in Burma.

The European Union should provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by conflict, including cross-border aid to areas where aid agencies and others do not have access.

The European Commission should end cuts to funding for refugees in Thailand, and instead increase financial support.

The international community has repeatedly stated that the solution to the problems in Burma lie in tripartite dialogue between the dictatorship, the mainstream democracy movement, and ethnic groups. However, no serious effort has ever been made to secure such dialogue. Efforts to secure such dialogue should be a top priority for the international community, including the European Union, in its engagement with the dictatorship.

Actions Birmanie (Belgium)

Association Suisse-Birmanie (Switzerland)

Austrian Burma Center (Austria)

Azione Birmania (Italy)

Burma Aktion (Germany)

Burma Campaign UK (UK)

Burma Center Netherlands (Netherlands)

Christian Solidarity Worldwide

CISL (Italy)

ESP-Stockholm – (Sweden)

European Karen Network

FIDH

INFO BIRMANIE (France)

NCUB-Europe

Norwegian Burma Committee (Norway)

Olof Palme International Center (Sweden)

People in Need (Czech Republic)

Social Democratic Student’s of Sweden (Sweden)

Society for Threatened Peoples (Germany)

Swedish Burma Committee (Sweden)

Mark Farmaner

Director

Burma Campaign UK
28 Charles Square
London
N1 6HT

Direct Tel: +44 (0)20 7324 4713

Mobile:+44 (0)7941239640
Email: mark.farmaner@burmacampaign.org.uk
Web: www.burmacampaign.org.uk

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The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) denounces the prisoner amnesty, announced 16 May by the new Thein Sein administration, as a ploy to appease the international community.

Under this so-called ‘amnesty’, outlined in order No. 28/2011, prisoners on death row will have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment and other convicts will receive a one-year deduction off their current prison terms.

The current amnesty will have no impact on the vast majority of political prisoners, most of whom are serving long prison terms. For example, of the 309 prisoners released from Thayet Prison, only one is a political prisoner who was nearing the end of his sentence. AAPP will continue to report on the releases as the information is confirmed.

For those political prisoners enduring extreme sentences, such as Shan politicians Khun Htun Oo and General Hso Ten, serving 93 and 106 years respectively, this amnesty is a cruel trick.  Twenty-eight political prisoners are serving 65 year sentences, such as the 88 Generation Movement leadership, including Ko Min Ko Naing and Ko Htay Kywe.

“This general amnesty is the worst prisoner amnesty in Burma’s history. By reducing sentences by one year, only those prisoners already at the end of their sentence will be released. By failing to release all political prisoners, or prioritizing the release of those who critically ill, or key political leaders, the current regime has shown the contempt in which it hold its own people and the total disregard in which it holds the international community, who has repeatedly called for the release of Burma’s political prisoners,”  said AAPP Secretary Ko Tate Naing.

In past amnesties, prisoners have been used as public relations stunts designed to appease the international community.  These prisoner releases have never been followed by any democratic reform or trend towards a long-term decrease in the political prisoner numbers. The latest amnesty is no different, coming just days after a visit by the UN Secretary-General’s Burma envoy, Vijay Nambiar.

AAPP urges the international community to condemn this current amnesty and intensify pressure on the current administration to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners in Burma.

“The current regime is trying to convince the rest of the world that it is moving in a civilian direction. Rather than using this as an opportunity to shore up credibility in the eyes of the international community, it has shown that it is uninterested in genuine democratic reform. The ongoing imprisonment of those who speak in defense of human rights and democracy shows its true intentions,” Ko Tate Naing said.

The current regime continues to deny the existence of political prisoners; a critical barrier to national reconciliation, as political prisoners are necessary agents in the struggle for democracy and human rights in Burma. A general amnesty for political prisoners must be motivated by genuine political will on the part of the regime. Any releases must be unconditional and the criminal records of political prisoners wiped. Of course, AAPP welcomes the release of any political prisoner but in the absence of the rule of law, in the face of an impartial judiciary and laws that criminalize basic civil and political rights, political activists as well as ordinary people will face the ongoing threat of arrest.

Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)

For more information:

Tate Naing (Secretary):    +66 (0) 81 287 8751
Bo Kyi (Joint Secretary):   +66 (0) 81 962 8713

Thanks N Regards,

Assistant Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) Office Ph: 66-55-545495
Web: http://www.aappb.org, http://www.fbppn.net

“There can be no national reconciliation in Burma, as long as there are political prisoners.”

For Immediate Release 16^th May 2011

No mass release of political prisoners  – Thein Sein more hardline than Than Shwe?

Following an announcement of a limited prisoner amnesty in Burma, but no mass release of political prisoners, the new dictator, Thein Sein, is increasingly showing himself to be as or more hard-line than former dictator Than Shwe.

In the first few months of becoming dictator, Than Shwe first acknowledged that there were political prisoners, and then released 427 political prisoners.

In contrast, Thein Sein’s government denies political prisoners even exist, and instead of announcing the release of political prisoners, or releasing significant numbers under the cover of a general prisoner amnesty, has instead announced only that all prisoners will have their sentences reduced by one year,  and that those on death row will have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment. This is a mechanism designed to avoid releasing senior opposition leaders, many of whom were given sentences of 65 years or more after the pro-democracy uprising in 2007. One political prisoner is serving a 104 year sentence.

Speculation had been growing in recent weeks that there would be a mass prisoner amnesty in Burma. Such releases are common in the country, happening every year or two. Usually a small number of political prisoners are included in the releases, in order to gain positive publicity. Such amnesties are also intended to provide good karma for the generals.

“Thein Sein is now showing his true colours, he is just as bad as the former dictator Than Shwe,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. “It is disappointing but not surprising that Thein Sein is keeping democracy activists in jail. It is yet more evidence that no real change has happened in Burma. It also shows that even now, with a new constitution designed to maintain dictatorship, this is a regime that is still afraid of the democracy movement, and does not feel confident about its grip on power.”

More than 2,000 political prisoners are in jail in Burma. Many have been tortured, and are denied proper medical care. It is not yet known how many political prisoners will be released as a result of all prisoners having their sentences reduced by one year.

Burma Campaign UK has produced a briefing highlighting how Burma’s detention of political prisoners breaks international law. It is available at: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/news-and-reports/burma-briefing/title/political-prisoners-in-burma-a-crime-against-humanity

For more information contact Mark Farmaner on 07941239640.

Unofficial translation of statement by the dictatorship:

Announcement by the President Regarding Amnesty to the Prisoners

The presidential statement regarding giving an amnesty to the prisoners was announced today.

28/2011 – Issued by the Office of the President

May 16, 2011

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar is emerged as a new peaceful, modernized and disciplined democratic country according to the constitution which was unanimously endorsed by the people. While building a new country, for the sake of the stability and the rule of law, the government has to take action against those who violated the existing laws, according to the laws. However, the government has been managing to transform the convicted prisoners to become active citizens who will help building of the new country by any way they can. Hence, based on the humanitarian ground and clemency on the families of prisoners, according to the State Constitution, Article 204 (B), the President gives pardon to those who are serving prison sentences regarding any crimes they have committed before May 17, 2011, as follows.

(A) Prisoners in death row will be commuted to life sentences.

(B)  Other prisoners will be given one year deduction from their current imprisonment, in addition to the parole given by the prisons.

Mark Farmaner

Director

Burma Campaign UK
28 Charles Square
London
N1 6HT

Direct Tel: +44 (0)20 7324 4713

Mobile:+44 (0)7941239640
Email: mark.farmaner@burmacampaign.org.uk
Web: www.burmacampaign.org.uk

Join our e-mail campaign network and receive the latest updates from the Burma Campaign UK automatically. Simply send a blank e-mail to:burmacampaign-subscribe@lists.burmacampaign.org.uk

The Burma Campaign UK, Registered Company No. 3804730, Registered office address as shown above.

Ahshin Sandar Dika was punished for demonstrating for his basic rights, as he has not been provided with adequate health care while in prison.  As a response, he was placed in solitary confinement where he is more vulnerable to torture and conditions are harsher. His family has reason to believe he has been tortured in his cell, which could have a devastating impact on his already fragile health condition.
At least 159 political prisoners are in poor health due to the harsh prison conditions, torture, transfers to remote prisons where there are no doctors, and the denial of proper medical care.

“Ashin Sandar Dika’s case is emblematic of the abuse suffered by political prisoners in Burma,” Tate Naing said. “Beaten, deprived of medical treatment, and cut off from the outside world, they have no effective complaint mechanism to seek redress, granting prison authorities total impunity”.
The failure by the authorities to respond to concerns raised by prisoners about their conditions of detention, and the ongoing arbitrary use of solitary confinement is a violation of both domestic and international laws and  standards. Despite the new ‘civilian’
administration, which came into power through a fundamentally flawed election held in November 2010, Ashin Sandar’s case is further evidence that changes made do not signify sincere steps towards democratic reform and national reconciliation. AAPP urges the international community to intensify  pressure on the current administration to immediately and unconditionally  release all political prisoners.
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)

For more information:

Tate Naing (Secretary):    +66 (0) 81 287 8751
Bo Kyi (Joint Secretary):   +66 (0) 81 962 8713

Thanks N Regards,

Assistant Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) Office Ph: 66-55-545495
Web: http://www.aappb.org, http://www.fbppn.net

“There can be no national reconciliation in Burma, as long as there are political prisoners.”