CAMPAIGNS : INFORMATION AND ACTION AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ACTION PACK AUGUST–OCTOBER 2010 | SECTION 02.

Defend three freedoms in Burma

Burma is about to hold its first national election in more than 20 years and
we want to use this critical moment to help prompt real and lasting change.
In the 1990 election the National League for Democracy (NLD) won 80 per cent
of the parliamentary seats but party leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi,
were swiftly arrested and imprisoned.
Since then the military junta (dictatorship) has continued to inflict horrific
human rights abuses on its people.
There are more than 2,200 political prisoners behind bars in Burma –
all imprisoned and silenced by the authorities for exercising their right to
freedom of expression, association and assembly.
Many have been tortured, held in solitary confinement, denied access to
medical care and taken far away from their families and loved ones.
Some of these political prisoners, including the Karenni activists featured in
the last school pack, are youth activists and students. These young people
should be the next generation of leaders in Burma, not in prison until they
are 60 years old.
Repression, intimidation and new election laws effectively prevent anyone
who opposes the military junta from casting a vote. With elections in Burma
expected sometime towards the end of 2010, it is highly likely that this
repression will intensify.
But that doesn’t stop the people of Burma from speaking out and it doesn’t
stop 2.8 million Amnesty International supporters worldwide from taking
action to help these people realise their freedom.
WHAT ARE THE
THREE FREEDOMS?
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets
out 30 global promises for the protection and
promotion of human rights. The right to freedom of
expression, assembly and association are three of
these rights.
Freedom of expression means you are free to
speak, write or communicate your views and
opinions freely.
Freedom of assembly means you are free to form
groups, organise and gather together for a shared
purpose or common aim.
Freedom of association means you are free to be a
member of a group or organisation that you choose
to support and you don’t have to be part of a group
or organisation that you don’t support.
It is pretty simple but, unfortunately, the military
junta don’t get it. This is why we need your help to
defend the three freedoms.

Some political prisoners were released in 2008 and 2009 thanks to the
tireless campaigning of people like us around the world. Now that the
elections are approaching, it is crucial that we continue to do all we can Filipino solidarity activists hold mock
to defend the three freedoms of expression, assembly and association. ballot papers with the image of Aung
San Suu Kyi during a protest action
at the Burmese embassy in Manila
on 27 May 2010. © Noel Celis/AFP
 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ACTION PACK AUGUST–OCTOBER 2010 | SECTION 02.2

Imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom

KHUN BEDU, KHUN KAWRIO AND KHUN DEE: YOUTH ACTIVISTS
Khun Bedu, Khun Kawrio and Khun Dee De should be Burma’s next generation of leaders, not in
prison until they are 60 years old. They are from the Karenni ethnic group and are serving lengthy jail
terms for their peaceful political activism. They led Karenni youth groups campaigning for a ‘no’ vote
in the referendum on a new constitution put forward by Burma’s military junta. All three were arrested
on the day of the referendum, 10 May 2008, and later sentenced by a military court without lawyers,
a judge or a trial. The three activists were interrogated for 15 days when arrested. They were allegedly
beaten with sticks, kicked and forced to kneel on stones. Their mouths were taped and plastic bags
were put over their heads. Khun Bedu and Khun Kawrio were sentenced to 37 years in prison, while
Khun Dee De was sentenced to 35 years.
Latest update: February 2010
Khun Bedu, Khun Kawrio and Khun Dee De are being held in deplorable conditions in separate
prisons far from their homes, making family visits extremely difficult.
Khun Bedu, Khun Dee De We are encouraging ongoing action for these activists and hope to feature their case again in the
and Khun Kawiro. © KNGY next school pack.

U GAMBIRA: BUDDHIST MONK AND ACTIVIST

U Gambira, a founding member of the All Burma Monks Alliance, is serving a 63-year sentence for his
role in anti-government protests in September 2007. Authorities forced him out of hiding in order to
capture him by arresting his father and brother. He has been stripped of his monk’s robes, beaten,
tortured, moved from prison to prison and placed in solitary confinement. U Gambira’s fragile health
deteriorated further when he staged a hunger strike to call for the release of all Burma’s political
prisoners in spring 2009. We also believe that he has malaria.
Latest update: May 2009
U Gambira. © AAPPB U Gambira was so weak that he was unable to speak.

ZARGANAR: COMEDIAN, ACTOR AND DIRECTOR

Popular comedian, actor and director Zarganar uses humour to oppose Burma’s military junta and to
criticise their policies and behaviour. Appalled by the government’s inadequate response following
Cyclone Nargis in May 2008, Zarganar collected money and supplies and assembled an emergency aid
team to help survivors. The reward for his humanitarian efforts was arrest and imprisonment for 35 years.
Burma’s vaguely worded security laws make it easy for the junta to manipulate the legal system to fit
its own agenda and to imprison peaceful activists like Zarganar. He has been in Myitkyina Prison since
November 2008 where torture and ill-treatment are a constant threat.
On 16 April 2009 he lost consciousness for more than two hours but was not taken to the prison
hospital for 10 days. By then doctors found he had high blood pressure, spondylitis (inflammation
in the spine) and an enlarged heart.
Latest update: February 2010
Following a prison visit, Zarganar’s sister-in-law confirmed that his health continues to be poor
Zarganar. © AAPPB and that he is still not receiving adequate medical care.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI: POLITICAL PRISONER

Aung San Suu Kyi is one of the most famous political prisoners in the world. But her fame has not
protected her from the brutality of the Burmese junta. In the 1990 election, Aung San Suu Kyi’s party,
the National League for Democracy (NLD), won 82 per cent of the parliamentary seats. But the junta
simply ignored the result, clung on to power by force and placed Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest.
Election laws recently announced by the military junta make it illegal for the NLD to participate in the
2010 election while Aung San Suu Kyi remains a member. Despite being awarded the Nobel Peace
Prize and receiving widespread international recognition, Aung San Suu Kyi has spent 15 of the last
20 years in prison or under house arrest. After a man swam across a lake to her home in May 2009,
Aung San Suu Kyi was put on trial for breaking the terms of her house arrest. She was sentenced to
an additional 18 months house arrest.
Latest update: May 2010
Aung San Suu Kyi. Due to the junta’s restrictive election laws, the NLD has announced that it will not take part in the
© Chris Robinson election later this year.