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Myanmar: Free Aung San Suu Kyi and All Political Prisoners |
Tue, 08/11/2009 - 19:57 — amnesty
locale_link:
http://www.amnesty.org.hk/chi/node/20239
Press Release
August 11, 2009
Myanmar: Free Aung San Suu Kyi and All Political Prisoners
Amnesty International Hong Kong is angry as the final verdict of Aung San Suu Kyi’s case was announced today, putting the respectable democratic icon into 18 months house arrest. The outcome is not surprising as the trial is not expected to end the detention she has endured for thirteen of the past 19 years.
The military rulers of Myanmar have jailed thousands of people in their continuing efforts to crush all dissenting views. The current trial of the Myanmar’s opposition leader, for violating the conditions of her house arrest, is just an excuse to keep her locked up.
Aung San Suu Kyi may be Myanmar's most famous prisoner of conscience, but there are still many other political prisoners whose peaceful acts of courage have met with retribution from the government. In the largest crackdown on human rights in Myanmar since 1988, security forces and pro-government supporters have dispersed, beaten and arrested hundreds of peaceful protesters. More than 2,100 political prisoners remain imprisoned in Myanmar, one of the largest of such populations worldwide.
The extension of Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention and the imprisonment of the political prisoners, as well as the systematic repression of ethnic minority civilians are evidence that the authorities have violated the economic, social and cultural rights of the people, as well as their civil and political rights.
We strongly urge the United Nations, The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the international community to pressure the military junta to free the “Ambassador of Conscience”, as well as all other political prisoners immediately; and to cooperate fully with the United Nations and allow investigation on all crimes against humanity;
Background
Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the Myanmar opposition party the National League for Democracy, and has been detained for over 13 of the past 20 years, mostly under house arrest.
Her house detention order was set to expire on May 27, 2009, but on May 14, just two weeks before her house detention was due to expire, she was arrested on highly dubious charges. Aung San Suu Kyi and two female companions had been facing trial in connection with an incident in which an uninvited intruder swam across a lake to her home in Rangoon and stayed there for two days.
Amnesty International announced on July 27 that Aung San Suu Kyi was being awarded its most prestigious honor – the "Ambassador of Conscience" Award for 2009. This year's award was announced in Dublin by Amnesty International and the Irish rock band U2, previous recipients of the award and long-time supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi.
"This month marks the twentieth anniversary of Aung San Suu Kyi's arrest and twenty years since Amnesty International declared her a prisoner of conscience. In those long and often dark years Aung San Suu Kyi has remained a symbol of hope, courage and the undying defence of human rights, not only to the people of Myanmar but to people around the world," said Irene Khan, Amnesty International's Secretary General.
Contact: Clara Law(Campaign Manager) Phone: (852) 3107 8050
Created:11/08/2009