HRW launches new campaign to free Burma’s political prisoners
Posted on September 17, 2009
Filed Under Burma news | Comments Off
There are now 2,250 political prisoners in Burma says advocacy group Human Rights Watch (HRW). In a new campaign launched this week, they are calling for the release of all political prisoners before elections planned for 2010.
Tom Malinowski, HRW’s Washington advocacy director, said ”Burma’s generals are planning elections next year that will be a sham if their opponents are in prison.”
HRW estimates the number of political prisoners has more than doubled in the last two years, with more than a hundred imprisoned in recent months.
A new report, Burma’s Forgotten Prisoners was also released this week. It highlights the cases of several prominent political prisoners. Among them are monks’ leader U Gambira, labour activist, Su Su Nway and comedian, Zargana.
HRW is also calling for improvements to the conditions political prisoners are kept in. They say they are seriously concerned for the health of many prisoners held in remote facilities with poor medical and sanitation conditions.
They want the Burmese government to immediately permit the resumption of International Committee of the Red Cross visits to prisons to assist those in custody, and grant access to other independent humanitarian organizations.
In particular, they are calling for an end to the junta’s practice of transferring prisoners to remote areas. They say this places a huge burden on family members to visit and provide urgently needed medicine and food.
The new campaign is called 2100 by 2010 and Malinowski said, “We named the campaign ‘2100 by 2010′ in July – but since then, the number has grown to approximately 2250.”
He added, “The United States, China, India, and Burma’s neighbours in Southeast Asia should make the release of all political prisoners a central goal of their engagement with Burma, and use every tool of influence and leverage they have to achieve it.”
Last week, HRW wrote to US Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton, calling on the US to complete its policy review on Burma (See: US warned delay in Burma policy review could encourage junta). The letter urged the US to focus on the promotion of human rights through principled diplomacy, tougher financial sanctions, and additional but properly monitored humanitarian aid.
Related posts:
- New signature campaign for Burma’s Political Prisoners Organisers of the Free Burma’s Political Prisoners Now campaign...
- Concern raised for health of Burma’s political prisoners Following recent international concern for the health of Burmese...
- Burmese humanitarian workers in Tak warned against political activities Burmese humanitarian workers have been warned they risk deportation if...
- Burma Campaign UK hit by staff shortage The Burma Campaign UK (BCUK) has had to call off...
- Kachin signature campaign launched against Irrawaddy dam Overseas Kachin are being asked to sign a letter to...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Comments
-
Mae Sot weather
