Burma’s 2100 prisoners of conscience

Press Release by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

An innovative campaign has been launched to highlight the plight of Burma’s 2100 prisoners of conscience.

The FCO has come together with the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) , Human Rights Watch and Burma Campaign UK to tell the hidden story of a prisoner every week between now and the elections planned by the junta for next year.

The campaign will raise the profile of the brave people imprisoned in Burmese jails for speaking out, telling the human stories of their detention and ordeal. The campaign, launched this week with stories of five of the highest profile detainees, will continue until the elections planned for 2010. 

Welcoming the campaign, Ivan Lewis said:
“This campaign will highlight the courage of Burma’s prisoners of conscience and the tragedy for Burma of their continued imprisonment.
In putting the spotlight on the plight of the students and civil society leaders, lawyers, union activists, ethnic and religious figures imprisoned in Burma, these very brave people will be made more than a number. Elections in Burma will have no credibility or legitimacy until these prisoners are released.”

The story of a prisoner will be told every week. It would take over 40 years to profile all 2100 prisoners of conscience. The Burmese regime continues to imprison anyone who might speak against them, however mildly, and very few genuine political prisoners are released. Many face long sentences of between 65 and 100 years.

Further information
This week’s featured prisoners include Zarganar, a comedian, film actor and director sentenced to 35 years imprisonment for involvement in cyclone relief efforts.

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