Protester Detained & Role of Burma's Military in 2010 Elections

On March 27, 2009, a protester in Twate Township, Rangoon was arrested by police according to an observer (as reported in Mizzima News).

The protester, who is a private tutor named Aung Phe, was taken away by authorities after standing for over five hours outside of the National League for Democracy (NLD) office building. On-lookers reported that he did not shout or hold any signs. However, his presence was enough to elicit arrest.

This incident is just one of the numerous examples of how Burma's government (currently, the military junta) will crack down on any protesters, regardless of the level of their action. Under the threat of arrest and imprisonment, the leaders of the government are prohibiting free speech.

As the country of Burma looks ahead to the 2010 free democratic elections, the military is preparing to assist in making a "smooth transition to democracy," according to the Democratic Voice of Burma. The government's second in command, Vice-Senior General Maung Aye, spoke to graduates of the Defense Services (Army) Officers Training School in Rangoon on April 10, 2009 (as reported by the Democratic Voice of Freedom). In his remarks, Maung Aye told the audience that the government is expecting a period of instability as the country transitions to democratic leadership. In 1990, free elections were held in Burma. Although the NLD won by an overwhelming amount, the residing government (the military junta) refused to relinquish their position. Since that election, Burma's constitution has been revised but without the imput of the NLD. In addition, according to the new constitution, the head of the NLD, Aung San Suu Kyi, is prohibited from running.

The comments of General Maung Aye give us an idea of what to expect from the future 2010 election. It does not seem as if much progress has been made toward democracy since 1990 because the NLD has been eliminated from the planning of the elections and prohibited to have their leader participate. The fact that the government is preparing their troops to control the public's anticipated reaction to the elections shows us that detainments and arrests such as the one on March 27 will probably continue to happen even if and when the democratic elections take place.

~ Sarah Popovich (Group: Burma)

Release of Thousands Begins in Burma

On Saturday, February 21, 2009 it was reported by my fellow teammate Sarah Popovich that over 6,000 prisoners were to be released. Just a few hours ago, the Washington Post as well as the Deutsche Welle have reported that the Burmese government has began to release the 6,300 prisoners. Of those prisoners being released less than 20 were political prisoners. "Zaw Myint Maung, who was elected to parliament in the annulled 1990 elections and was given a 20-year sentence in 1991", was on of the political prisoners released. Also a number of monks who had been imprisoned since 2003, for refusing to except funds from Gen. Khin Nyunt, Burma's prime minister at the time who was later fired and arrested in 2004.

The release comes shortly after the visit of two United Nations officials, Tomás Ojea Quintana, a special rapporteur on human rights and Ibrahim Gambari, secretary-general's special advisor on Burma. This was 'Quintana's second visit to Burma in six months, and he gave a bleak assessment of the situation',"The human rights situation in Myanmar is still challenging," he said after his visit, referring to the country by the name its military rulers prefer. "It's difficult to affirm that the human rights situation has improved." Gambari reported after meeting with political prisoner and National League for Democracy leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyiz. "I told the government that now is the time to demonstrate Myanmar's commitment to addressing concretely the issues of concern to the international community - particularly the release of political prisoners and the resumption of dialogue between the government and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi."

There seems to be some progress being made with the release of these prisoners. Burma is schedule to hold elections next year, and that is where true progress shall be made.

Bayyina Black, Burma Group

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/function/0,,12215_cid_4047767,00.html
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-02-20-voa51.cfm

Burma: Campaign to Free Political Prisoners

Beginning on February 14, 2009, members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) started collecting signatures for a public awareness campaign to free Aung San Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi is a political prisoner who has been detained in prison or under house arrest for 13 of the past 18 years. She won the 1990 election of Prime Minister, but was denied the position because the military power nullified the election.

The campaign, which is mainly being implemented by the youthful members of the NLD, faces problems with gaining the support of the common Burmese people. Because the current Burmese junta strictly enforce laws that prohibit free speech, many people may hesitate to give their support to this campaign. One of the barriers to this goal is the public's perception of the repercussions if they show support.

"The people are interested in this campaign, But, some people did not dare to give their signatures out of fear and they were also unaware that they could participate in such campaigns at their own free will as their right," said Daw Khin Nyunt Mu, a member of the NLD organizing committee (quote from Mizzima - a Burmese media source).

On Friday, February 20, Burma's military rulers announced that they would begin the release over 6000 prisoners. They did not specify, however, if this number would include the estimated 2000 prisoners who were detained for political reasons. Although this may be a step in the right direction, according to the Mizzima, no prisoners had been released as of Saturday.

- Sarah Popovich (Burma)