Message from Burma Campaign, UK

Following the release of Kachin political prisoners Lum Zawng and Zau Jat last month, we have received more great news. Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were released from prison last week. They were arrested in Rangoon in 2017 after investigating the killing of 10 Rohingya men buried in a mass grave. In September 2018, they were sentenced to 7 years in prison. They were released under a Presidential amnesty, as part of a mass amnesty of thousands of ordinary prisoners. Prisoner amnesties often take place at this time of year at Burmese New Year.

This is wonderful news for Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo and their families. Thank you so much for supporting the campaign for their release.

Wa Lone thanked supporters for calling for his and his colleague's release:
"Inside in the prison and also around the world people were wishing to release us so I'd like to say thank you very much for everything."

 

While we celebrate their release, we must not forget that many political prisoners remain in jail. There are over 100 political prisoners still in jail, some convicted and some awaiting or on trial, and almost 200 more not in jail but awaiting trial. We must keep up the pressure for their release too.

So it was disappointing that in his statement welcoming the release of the two Reuters journalists, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt made no mention of the need to free all political prisoners in Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi has the power to release all political prisoners and repeal the repressive laws that are used to imprison them.

If you haven't taken action yet, please email the Foreign Secretary and urge him to work for the release of all political prisoners in Burma.

Thank you
 
Anna Roberts
Executive Director
Burma Campaign UK
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Burma Campaign UK
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