Today marks the fifth
anniversary of the formation of the Assistance Association for
Political Prisoners (Burma).
Since 1988, when the
Burmese people's anti-regime movement first began, the movement
towards democracy and human rights has become stronger. However,
the military clique has brutally cracked down upon this movement
by using arms, and arresting and imprisoning thousands of political
activists.
To date, there are human
rights violations being committed by the military authorities
throughout Burmese prisons and interrogation
centers. Inside prison, political prisoners' health conditions
deteriorate due to torture, forced labor, lack of nutritious
food, lack of hygienic water, isolation, lack of stimulus, and
inadequate medical care - which has led the death toll, in custody,
to be as many as one hundred.
There was, and still
is, the need for urgent action to be taken to release political
prisoners, protect prisoner's rights and support them whilst
in prison. Some former political prisoners, who had reached
the Thai-Burma border, decided to work together for this objective.
As a result, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners
(Burma) was officially founded on 23 March 2000.
Since the Association
was founded, it has continuously monitored the conditions of
Burmese political prisoners, provided information andpress releases
for the international community, and has also launched international
campaigns for the release of political prisoners. Moreover,
it has provided physical, as well as moral support, to political
prisoners and their families, and helps political prisoners
with necessary health assistance after release.
At present, there are
still over 1400 political prisoners suffering in
various prisons under the military regime.
Therefore, on this anniversary of the formation of the Association,
we firmly state that we will continue our endeavor for the release
of all Burmese political prisoners and, in general, for democracy
and human rights in Burma. In addition, we also urge democratic
and human rights activists, both local and international, to
help us achieve the following points concerning political prisoners
in Burma:
1. to permanently end torture and abuse (both physical
and mental)
2. to abolish long-term solitary confinement
3. to provide adequate medical care inside prisons
4. to provide nutritious food, hygienic water and proper
clothes
5. not to transfer political prisoners to remote prisons
(preventing regular contact with family members)
6. to immediately release prisoners who have completed
their respective prison terms
7. to obtain free and fair trials
8. to allow prisoners to read and write
Assistance Association for Political
Prisoners (Burma)
