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Assistance Association for Political Prisoners » Blog Archive » January 2012 AAPP Monthly Chronology
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Although the release of political prisoners is undoubtedly a positive action, it is important to remember that there are still at least 852 that remain in prison. From which, AAPP could confirm the prison location and imprisonment details of 415 political prisoners and has still been verifying the whereabouts and imprisonment details of 437 political prisoners who are believed to" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://aappb.org/?p=1012" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Assistance Association for Political Prisoners" /> <meta property="article:section" content="2012 Chronology" /> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2012-02-04T08:47:17+07:00" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2017-04-10T12:09:09+07:00" /> <meta property="og:updated_time" content="2017-04-10T12:09:09+07:00" /> <!-- / Easy Social Share Buttons for WordPress --> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Assistance Association for Political Prisoners » Feed" href="https://aappb.org/?feed=rss2" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Assistance Association for Political Prisoners » Comments Feed" href="https://aappb.org/?feed=comments-rss2" /> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https:\/\/aappb.org\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js?ver=6.7.2"}}; /*! 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bottom: 10px; } #rmp_menu_trigger-22913.is-active .responsive-menu-pro-inner::after { bottom: 0; } /* Hamburger menu styling */ @media screen and (max-width: 800px) { /** Menu Title Style */ /** Menu Additional Content Style */ #navigation { display: none !important; } #rmp_menu_trigger-22913 { display: block; } #rmp-container-22913 { position: fixed; top: 0; margin: 0; transition: transform 0.5s; overflow: auto; display: block; width: 75%; background-color: #212121; background-image: url(""); height: 100%; left: 0; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-right: 0px; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 { padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-right: 0px; background-color: #212121; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu, #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-submenu { width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0; padding: 0; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-submenu-depth-1 .rmp-menu-item-link { padding-left: 10%; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-submenu-depth-2 .rmp-menu-item-link { padding-left: 15%; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-submenu-depth-3 .rmp-menu-item-link { padding-left: 20%; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-submenu-depth-4 .rmp-menu-item-link { padding-left: 25%; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-submenu.rmp-submenu-open { display: block; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-item { width: 100%; list-style: none; margin: 0; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-item-link { height: 40px; line-height: 40px; font-size: 13px; border-bottom: 1px solid #212121; font-family: inherit; color: #ffffff; text-align: left; background-color: #212121; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; display: block; box-sizing: border-box; width: 100%; text-decoration: none; position: relative; overflow: hidden; transition: background-color 0.5s, border-color 0.5s, 0.5s; padding: 0 5%; padding-right: 50px; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-item-link:after, #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-item-link:before { display: none; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-item-link:hover, #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-item-link:focus { color: #ffffff; border-color: #212121; background-color: #3f3f3f; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-item-link:focus { outline: none; border-color: unset; box-shadow: unset; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-item-link .rmp-font-icon { height: 40px; line-height: 40px; margin-right: 10px; font-size: 13px; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-current-item .rmp-menu-item-link { color: #ffffff; border-color: #212121; background-color: #212121; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-current-item .rmp-menu-item-link:hover, #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-current-item .rmp-menu-item-link:focus { color: #ffffff; border-color: #3f3f3f; background-color: #3f3f3f; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-subarrow { position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; text-align: center; overflow: hidden; background-size: cover; overflow: hidden; right: 0; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: #212121; border-left-width: 1px; height: 39px; width: 40px; color: #ffffff; background-color: #212121; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-subarrow svg { fill: #ffffff; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-subarrow:hover { color: #ffffff; border-color: #3f3f3f; background-color: #3f3f3f; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-subarrow:hover svg { fill: #ffffff; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-subarrow .rmp-font-icon { margin-right: unset; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-subarrow * { vertical-align: middle; line-height: 39px; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-subarrow-active { display: block; background-size: cover; color: #ffffff; border-color: #212121; background-color: #212121; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-subarrow-active svg { fill: #ffffff; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-subarrow-active:hover { color: #ffffff; border-color: #3f3f3f; background-color: #3f3f3f; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-subarrow-active:hover svg { fill: #ffffff; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-submenu { display: none; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-submenu .rmp-menu-item-link { height: 40px; line-height: 40px; letter-spacing: 0px; font-size: 13px; border-bottom: 1px solid #212121; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; color: #ffffff; text-align: left; background-color: #212121; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-submenu .rmp-menu-item-link:hover, #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-submenu .rmp-menu-item-link:focus { color: #ffffff; border-color: #212121; background-color: #3f3f3f; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-submenu .rmp-menu-current-item .rmp-menu-item-link { color: #ffffff; border-color: #212121; background-color: #212121; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-submenu .rmp-menu-current-item .rmp-menu-item-link:hover, #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-submenu .rmp-menu-current-item .rmp-menu-item-link:focus { color: #ffffff; border-color: #3f3f3f; background-color: #3f3f3f; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-submenu .rmp-menu-subarrow { right: 0; border-right: unset; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: #212121; border-left-width: 1px; height: 39px; line-height: 39px; width: 40px; color: #ffffff; background-color: #212121; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-submenu .rmp-menu-subarrow:hover { color: #ffffff; border-color: #3f3f3f; background-color: #3f3f3f; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-submenu .rmp-menu-subarrow-active { color: #ffffff; border-color: #212121; background-color: #212121; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-submenu .rmp-menu-subarrow-active:hover { color: #ffffff; border-color: #3f3f3f; background-color: #3f3f3f; } #rmp-menu-wrap-22913 .rmp-menu-item-description { margin: 0; padding: 5px 5%; opacity: 0.8; color: #ffffff; } #rmp-search-box-22913 { display: block; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 5%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-right: 5%; } #rmp-search-box-22913 .rmp-search-form { margin: 0; } #rmp-search-box-22913 .rmp-search-box { background: #ffffff; border: 1px solid #dadada; color: #333333; width: 100%; padding: 0 5%; border-radius: 30px; height: 45px; -webkit-appearance: none; } #rmp-search-box-22913 .rmp-search-box::placeholder { color: #c7c7cd; } #rmp-search-box-22913 .rmp-search-box:focus { background-color: #ffffff; outline: 2px solid #dadada; color: #333333; } #rmp-menu-title-22913 { background-color: #212121; color: #ffffff; text-align: left; font-size: 13px; padding-top: 10%; padding-left: 5%; padding-bottom: 0%; padding-right: 5%; font-weight: 400; transition: background-color 0.5s, border-color 0.5s, color 0.5s; } #rmp-menu-title-22913:hover { background-color: #212121; color: #ffffff; } #rmp-menu-title-22913 > .rmp-menu-title-link { color: #ffffff; width: 100%; background-color: unset; text-decoration: none; } #rmp-menu-title-22913 > .rmp-menu-title-link:hover { color: #ffffff; } #rmp-menu-title-22913 .rmp-font-icon { font-size: 13px; } #rmp-menu-additional-content-22913 { padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 5%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-right: 5%; color: #ffffff; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; } } /** This file contents common styling of menus. */ .rmp-container { display: none; visibility: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; z-index: 99998; transition: all 0.3s; /** Scrolling bar in menu setting box **/ } .rmp-container.rmp-fade-top, .rmp-container.rmp-fade-left, .rmp-container.rmp-fade-right, .rmp-container.rmp-fade-bottom { display: none; } .rmp-container.rmp-slide-left, .rmp-container.rmp-push-left { transform: translateX(-100%); -ms-transform: translateX(-100%); -webkit-transform: translateX(-100%); -moz-transform: translateX(-100%); } .rmp-container.rmp-slide-left.rmp-menu-open, .rmp-container.rmp-push-left.rmp-menu-open { transform: translateX(0); -ms-transform: translateX(0); -webkit-transform: translateX(0); -moz-transform: translateX(0); } .rmp-container.rmp-slide-right, .rmp-container.rmp-push-right { transform: translateX(100%); -ms-transform: translateX(100%); -webkit-transform: translateX(100%); -moz-transform: translateX(100%); } .rmp-container.rmp-slide-right.rmp-menu-open, .rmp-container.rmp-push-right.rmp-menu-open { transform: translateX(0); -ms-transform: translateX(0); -webkit-transform: translateX(0); -moz-transform: translateX(0); } .rmp-container.rmp-slide-top, .rmp-container.rmp-push-top { transform: translateY(-100%); -ms-transform: translateY(-100%); -webkit-transform: translateY(-100%); -moz-transform: translateY(-100%); } .rmp-container.rmp-slide-top.rmp-menu-open, .rmp-container.rmp-push-top.rmp-menu-open { transform: translateY(0); -ms-transform: translateY(0); -webkit-transform: translateY(0); -moz-transform: translateY(0); } .rmp-container.rmp-slide-bottom, .rmp-container.rmp-push-bottom { transform: translateY(100%); -ms-transform: translateY(100%); -webkit-transform: translateY(100%); -moz-transform: translateY(100%); } .rmp-container.rmp-slide-bottom.rmp-menu-open, .rmp-container.rmp-push-bottom.rmp-menu-open { transform: translateX(0); -ms-transform: translateX(0); -webkit-transform: translateX(0); -moz-transform: translateX(0); } .rmp-container::-webkit-scrollbar { width: 0px; } .rmp-container ::-webkit-scrollbar-track { box-shadow: inset 0 0 5px transparent; } .rmp-container ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb { background: transparent; } .rmp-container ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb:hover { background: transparent; } .rmp-container .rmp-menu-wrap .rmp-menu { transition: none; border-radius: 0; box-shadow: none; background: none; border: 0; bottom: auto; box-sizing: border-box; clip: auto; color: #666; display: block; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; height: auto; left: auto; line-height: 1.7; list-style-type: none; margin: 0; min-height: auto; max-height: none; opacity: 1; outline: none; overflow: visible; padding: 0; position: relative; pointer-events: auto; right: auto; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0; text-transform: none; transform: none; top: auto; visibility: inherit; width: auto; word-wrap: break-word; white-space: normal; } .rmp-container .rmp-menu-additional-content { display: block; word-break: break-word; } .rmp-container .rmp-menu-title { display: flex; flex-direction: column; } .rmp-container .rmp-menu-title .rmp-menu-title-image { max-width: 100%; margin-bottom: 15px; display: block; margin: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; } button.rmp_menu_trigger { z-index: 999999; overflow: hidden; outline: none; border: 0; display: none; margin: 0; transition: transform 0.5s, background-color 0.5s; padding: 0; } button.rmp_menu_trigger .responsive-menu-pro-inner::before, button.rmp_menu_trigger .responsive-menu-pro-inner::after { content: ""; display: block; } button.rmp_menu_trigger .responsive-menu-pro-inner::before { top: 10px; } button.rmp_menu_trigger .responsive-menu-pro-inner::after { bottom: 10px; } button.rmp_menu_trigger .rmp-trigger-box { width: 40px; display: inline-block; position: relative; pointer-events: none; vertical-align: super; } .admin-bar .rmp-container, .admin-bar .rmp_menu_trigger { margin-top: 32px !important; } @media screen and (max-width: 782px) { .admin-bar .rmp-container, .admin-bar .rmp_menu_trigger { margin-top: 46px !important; } } /* Menu Trigger Boring Animation */ .rmp-menu-trigger-boring .responsive-menu-pro-inner { transition-property: none; } .rmp-menu-trigger-boring .responsive-menu-pro-inner::after, .rmp-menu-trigger-boring .responsive-menu-pro-inner::before { transition-property: none; } .rmp-menu-trigger-boring.is-active .responsive-menu-pro-inner { transform: rotate(45deg); } .rmp-menu-trigger-boring.is-active .responsive-menu-pro-inner:before { top: 0; opacity: 0; } .rmp-menu-trigger-boring.is-active .responsive-menu-pro-inner:after { bottom: 0; transform: rotate(-90deg); } </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='dashicons-css' href='https://aappb.org/wp-includes/css/dashicons.min.css?ver=6.7.2' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wpml-legacy-horizontal-list-0-css' href='https://aappb.org/wp-content/plugins/sitepress-multilingual-cms/templates/language-switchers/legacy-list-horizontal/style.min.css?ver=1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='wpml-legacy-horizontal-list-0-inline-css' type='text/css'> .wpml-ls-statics-shortcode_actions, .wpml-ls-statics-shortcode_actions .wpml-ls-sub-menu, .wpml-ls-statics-shortcode_actions a {border-color:#cdcdcd;}.wpml-ls-statics-shortcode_actions a, .wpml-ls-statics-shortcode_actions .wpml-ls-sub-menu a, .wpml-ls-statics-shortcode_actions .wpml-ls-sub-menu a:link, .wpml-ls-statics-shortcode_actions li:not(.wpml-ls-current-language) .wpml-ls-link, .wpml-ls-statics-shortcode_actions li:not(.wpml-ls-current-language) .wpml-ls-link:link {color:#444444;background-color:#ffffff;}.wpml-ls-statics-shortcode_actions .wpml-ls-sub-menu a:hover,.wpml-ls-statics-shortcode_actions .wpml-ls-sub-menu a:focus, .wpml-ls-statics-shortcode_actions .wpml-ls-sub-menu a:link:hover, .wpml-ls-statics-shortcode_actions .wpml-ls-sub-menu a:link:focus {color:#000000;background-color:#eeeeee;}.wpml-ls-statics-shortcode_actions .wpml-ls-current-language > a {color:#444444;background-color:#ffffff;}.wpml-ls-statics-shortcode_actions .wpml-ls-current-language:hover>a, .wpml-ls-statics-shortcode_actions .wpml-ls-current-language>a:focus {color:#000000;background-color:#eeeeee;} </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='app-css' href='https://aappb.org/wp-content/themes/bordermedia/build/css/app.css?ver=6.7.2' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='fontawesome-style-css' href='https://aappb.org/wp-content/themes/bordermedia/css/font-awesome.min.css?ver=0.01' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='subscribe-forms-css-css' href='https://aappb.org/wp-content/plugins/easy-social-share-buttons3/assets/modules/subscribe-forms.min.css?ver=10.1.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='click2tweet-css-css' href='https://aappb.org/wp-content/plugins/easy-social-share-buttons3/assets/modules/click-to-tweet.min.css?ver=10.1.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='easy-social-share-buttons-css' href='https://aappb.org/wp-content/plugins/easy-social-share-buttons3/assets/css/easy-social-share-buttons.min.css?ver=10.1.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wp-pagenavi-css' href='https://aappb.org/wp-content/plugins/wp-pagenavi/pagenavi-css.css?ver=2.70' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='upk-site-css' href='https://aappb.org/wp-content/plugins/ultimate-post-kit/assets/css/upk-site.css?ver=3.14.2' type='text/css' media='all' /> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://aappb.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js?ver=3.7.1" id="jquery-core-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://aappb.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js?ver=3.4.1" id="jquery-migrate-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="rmp_menu_scripts-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var rmp_menu = {"ajaxURL":"https:\/\/aappb.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","wp_nonce":"c3b10e65a0","menu":[{"menu_theme":null,"theme_type":"default","theme_location_menu":"","submenu_submenu_arrow_width":"40","submenu_submenu_arrow_width_unit":"px","submenu_submenu_arrow_height":"39","submenu_submenu_arrow_height_unit":"px","submenu_arrow_position":"right","submenu_sub_arrow_background_colour":"#212121","submenu_sub_arrow_background_hover_colour":"#3f3f3f","submenu_sub_arrow_background_colour_active":"#212121","submenu_sub_arrow_background_hover_colour_active":"#3f3f3f","submenu_sub_arrow_border_width":"1","submenu_sub_arrow_border_width_unit":"px","submenu_sub_arrow_border_colour":"#212121","submenu_sub_arrow_border_hover_colour":"#3f3f3f","submenu_sub_arrow_border_colour_active":"#212121","submenu_sub_arrow_border_hover_colour_active":"#3f3f3f","submenu_sub_arrow_shape_colour":"#ffffff","submenu_sub_arrow_shape_hover_colour":"#ffffff","submenu_sub_arrow_shape_colour_active":"#ffffff","submenu_sub_arrow_shape_hover_colour_active":"#ffffff","use_header_bar":"off","header_bar_items_order":"{\"logo\":\"on\",\"title\":\"on\",\"search\":\"on\",\"html 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class="breadcrumbs"> <!-- Breadcrumb NavXT 7.4.1 --> <a title="Go to Assistance Association for Political Prisoners." href="https://aappb.org" class="home">Home</a> > <a title="Go to the 2012 Chronology category archives." href="https://aappb.org/?cat=55" class="taxonomy category">2012 Chronology</a> > January 2012 AAPP Monthly Chronology </div> <div class="post-single"> <h2>January 2012 AAPP Monthly Chronology</h2> <div class="post-meta-data"> Posted on February 4, 2012 • Posted in <a href="https://aappb.org/?cat=55" rel="category">2012 Chronology</a>, <a href="https://aappb.org/?cat=8" rel="category">Chronology</a> <br /> </div> <style type="text/css">.essb_links.essb_size_m .essb_link_svg_icon svg{height:18px;width:auto}.essb_links.essb_size_m .essb_icon{width:36px !important;height:36px !important}.essb_links.essb_size_m .essb_icon:before{font-size:18px !important;top:9px !important;left:9px !important}.essb_links.essb_size_m li a .essb_network_name{font-size:13px 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2.326H9.25V16c3.824-.604 6.75-3.934 6.75-7.951"></path></svg></span><span class="essb_network_name">Facebook</span></a></li></ul></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">Summary of the current situation </span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">Trends </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">This month the President U Thein Sein issued two orders for the release of prisoners. </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">36 </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">political prisoners were released on the 4</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">th </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">of January and a further </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">300</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">1 </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">were released on the 13</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">th</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">. Although the release of political prisoners is undoubtedly a positive action, it is important to remember that there are still at least </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">852 </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">that remain in prison. From which, AAPP could confirm the prison location and imprisonment details of </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">415 </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">political prisoners and has still been verifying the whereabouts and imprisonment details of </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">437 </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">political prisoners who are believed to be in prison. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">The prisoners who were released included many high profile activists such as Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi from the 88 Generation group, Ashin Gambira, a monk leader </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">of the 2007 „Saffron Revolution,‟ famous media activists such as DVB journalist Sithu </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Zeya and blogger Nay Phone Latt, ethnic figures such as U Khun Tun Oo and the former army captain, Nay Myo Zin. In subsequent interviews of those released, cases of torture, ill-treatment, harsh prison conditions and a purposeful regime policy of keeping political prisoners in jails in remote and inaccessible locations were a common thread. Many of those released have vowed to carry on the struggle for real democratic change in Burma. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">The international community warmly welcomed the January 13</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">th </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">release, while continuing to press for the release of the remaining political prisoners. Certain sanctions by certain countries have been lifted as a reward for this development and the EU will review its tough stance after the April by-elections in which Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD will contest forty eight available seats. The conditions in which the sanctions were first imposed, however, remain in place. Ethnic fighting is continuing, hundreds of political prisoners still exist and the military backed regime is still in power. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">It is also important to note that the releases of political prisoners this month were not without conditions. The presidential order was authorized under Article 401 of the criminal code, which states that the president has the power to arbitrarily order any of those released to serve the remainder of their sentence if he wishes. In fact Nay Myo Zin, the first political prisoner arrested under the Thein Sein regime is back in court for possessing a t-</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">shirt with General Aung San‟s image on while in Insein Prison. It </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">is also significant that the regime still does not officially recognize the existence of political prisoners. </span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">Torture and Treatment of prisoners and their families </span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">With the presidential release this month, many former political prisoners conducted interviews in which they were able to convey the appalling conditions they have had to endure, which in some cases amounted to torture.<br /> Min Zeya, 88 generation leader, explained, </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">“</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">It was like hell and the hell for political prisoners was worse than that for common criminals. The food we were given was only fit for animals. Even then the</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">y wouldn‟t give enough. The authorities did everything they could to oppress us.” </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Political prisoners continue to be placed in prisons far from their families, thus making visits extremely difficult and expensive. For example, Honey Oo was moved to Lashio Prison, a cold and remote prison, causing her difficulties as her family could not provide her with food which she needed as the prison food was not adequate enough. The prison guard also used abusive and offensive language on a regular basis to her.<br /> Ko Ko Gyi, who was serving his second long sentence, was also placed in a remote prison with his family only able to visit 3 times over 3 years. He also spent long periods of time in solitary confinement. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">In a series of interviews with Reuters, many political prisoners told of the overcrowded, cramped prisons in the notorious Insein Prison, of enduring beatings and other forms of torture such as sleep and food deprivation. Ko Win Maw said he was severely tortured from being punched and beaten with a stick during interrogation. A friend of his had his skull cracked and another one lost his arm. While in prison in Arakan State, it was often months between visits due to the rainy season rendering access very difficult for his family. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Abbot Ashin Wayponela spoke of being disrobed while being interrogated and was ordered to renounce his monkhood. He also revealed how his trial was essentially a sham as he did not have access to a defense counsel. He was technically allowed to hire a </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">lawyer but he was not permitted to actually contact or communicate with anyone outside the prison. He asked the authorities to hire one for him but they refused. With no legal defense he did not stand a chance against an inherently unfair and politically motivated trial. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">In a tragic incident, the political prisoner, Thet Nwe, who was released on January 13</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">th </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">died just 10 days after his release. He had been imprisoned since 2002 for working as an organizer for the NLD but suffered from extreme torture whilst inside. According to his sister he could not even walk out of prison when he was freed. While being interrogated his head was held over a toilet filled with feces and hit repeatedly over the head. He died of liver cancer but did not receive the appropriate treatment while in Insein Prison. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Despite the consistent accounts of torture, ill-treatment and inadequate healthcare or food provision for political prisoners, the regime has sought to portray life for prisoners as acceptable. This was done at the start of this month through the regime created body, the Myanmar Human Rights Commission (MHRC). In reaction to the prison strikers at Insein Prison last year, they visited prisons in late December, 2011, and released a statement in which there was no mention of ill treatment. The only area in which the prison system was failing was overcrowding. A report by Human Rights Watch has heavily criticized the human rights situation in Burma and has also called for an independent commission to investigate the numbers and conditions of political pris</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">oners inside Burma‟s jails. The MHRC consequently attacked this report, revealing </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">its lack of genuine will for an authentic prison investigation. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 27</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Win Maw: „Prison became my studio‟ (DVB) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 25</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">A monk on a political mission of mercy (Irrawaddy) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 24</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Burma rights body lays into HRW report (DVB)<br /> Nine years sleeping on a cold concrete floor (Irrawaddy)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 23</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">rd<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Watc</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">h for new arrests of political opponents before singing the praises of Myanmar‟s spring (The Japan Times) </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Tortured activist dies days after jail release (DVB)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 20</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Freed prisoners add momentum, risks to Myanmar reform (Asahi Shimbun)<br /> Q & A </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">– </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Myanmar political prisoner Min Zeya looks to future after release (Trust.org)<br /> Q & A </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">– </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Ex political prisoner Ashin Gambira says Myanmar struggle goes on (Trust.org)<br /> Q & A </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">– </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">No political prisoners in country governed by rule of law </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">– </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">ex Myanmar prisoner Win Maw (Trust.org) Q & A </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">– </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Myanmar releases political prisoner Htay Kywe (Trust.org)<br /> Q & A </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">–</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Former political prisoner Sithu Zeya talks about changes in Myanmar (Trust.org)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 18</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Ko Ko Gyi: Changing face of Burma (DVB)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">16</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">„They ordered me to renounce my monkhood‟ (Mizzima)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 13</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">„I will continue as an ABFSU member‟ (Mizzima)<br /> „We don‟t need food, we need news‟ (</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Mizzima)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Abbot is „on the road‟ (Mizzima)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 10</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Lower house to tackle judicial bias (Mizzima)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 6</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">„They kicked me a lot, and my tooth fell out‟ (Mizzima)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 3</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">rd<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Political Prisoners‟ tragedy captured in video (Mizzima)<br /> Burma human rights commission says „dog cells‟ not true (Mizzima)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Burmese human rights commission statement (Mizzima) </span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">Prisoners Released </span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">January saw two presidential orders for the release of prisoners in which political and criminal prisoners were released. A total of </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">336 </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">political prisoners were released, according to AAPP. Further confirmations are ongoing. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">The first release, taking place on 3 January, does not qualify as an amnesty, as it resulted in a commutation of death sentences to life, and a meager reduction in prison terms. For example, jail terms above 30 years were reduced to 30 years, those between 20 and 30 years were cut to 20 years and shorter sentences were cut by a quarter. Only 34 political prisoners were released as a result. The news was greeted with widespread disappointment with NLD members, 88 Generation members, journalists, movie directors and spokespeople from the international community condemning the release. The second presidential order, taking place on 13 January, in which AAPP has been able to so far 300 political prisoners were released, is the most substantial release of political prisoners to date in Burma. Many of those released were high profile political prisoners including monks, 88 Generation members, NLD members, journalists, students, labor activists, Generation Wave members and some ethnic leaders. There remain, however, many ethnic nationalists locked up. Sixty former military intelligence officials were also released, including former intelligence chief, Khin Nyunt. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">The amnesty, while enthusiastically welcome by AAPP, still falls short. The presidential order was authorized under Article 401 of the criminal procedural code. This means that political prisoners released can be effectively re-arrested without warrant and made to serve the remainder of their sentences for the slightest offense. Those who are released still face restrictions on their freedoms. Although Zarganar, who was released in October, was permitted to travel to Cambodia and Thailand last month, most former political prisoners are not issued a passport if they apply. Their movements are monitored for at least twelve months after their release an</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">d put on a „black list‟ </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">regarding passport applications. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">According to the Home Minister, Lt-Gen Ko Ko, there are still 128 prisoners remaining of the list of 430 which the regime were using who could not be released as they were deemed to be common criminals. Thirteen of which supposedly have Taliban connections. The Foreign Minister, Wunna Maung Lwinn, accepted that there are still political prisoners and they would be released, </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">“when appropriate, taking into account </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">public security, peace and stability a</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">nd the interest of the people and the state.” </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 27</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Up to 900 political prisoners may remain in Burmese jails (Mizzima) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 26</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Change in Burma „irreversible‟: FM (Irrawaddy) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 22</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">nd </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Many freed Burmese weren‟t jailed for politics (New York Times) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 20</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Burma‟s president gives his first foreign interview (Washington Post) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 17</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Burma‟s remaining jailed dissidents (Irrawaddy) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 16</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">How many political prisoners remain in jail? (Mizzima)<br /> Ethnic issue key to ending sanctions: McConnell (Irrawaddy) </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 14</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Myanmar says 302 political prisoners released in amnesty (Reuters) </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 13</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Many Myanmar political detainees to be feed (Straits Times)<br /> Many Myanmar political prisoners to be freed (Reuters) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">High profile dissidents freed in Burma amnesty (BBC) Burma prison amnesty 13 Jan releases (DVB)<br /> DVB reporters freed, Obama hails releases (DVB) Burma frees top dissidents, feelings mixed (DVB) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">In the words of released dissidents (Irrawaddy)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">The moment of triumph for Burma‟s dissidents (Irrawad</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">dy)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 12</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Myanmar says 651 prisoners to be released under pardon (AP)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 6</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Burma‟s prisons should not be off</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">-limits to international monitors (The Guardian) </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">„Are there cracks in Thein Sein‟s cabinet?‟ (Irrawaddy)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 5</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Suu Kyi: Burma democracy in my lifetime (BBC)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 4</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">33 Burmese political prisoners released (Mizzima)<br /> Jailed activists mostly left out of </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Burma‟s latest prisoner amnesty (VOA) </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">AAPP-</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Burma‟s list of freed political prisoners (Mizzima)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 3</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">rd<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Disappointment at prison cuts (DVB)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Burma cuts prison terms on „humanitarian grounds‟ (Bangkok Post) </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Disappointment at Burma prison term cuts (Bangkok Post)<br /> Burma orders limited prisoner release (Mizzima)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 1</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">st<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Gov‟t human rights commission calls for amnesty (Mizzima) </span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">Update on Individual Cases </span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Nay Myo Zin, former army captain sentenced to 10 years, was re-arrested the day after his release under the 13 January presidential order. His crime was to possess a t- shirt and a key-</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">ring with General Aung San‟s image </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">in Insein Prison. He is not optimistic </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">about the verdict, “</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Given that they are seriously building this case with accounts from prosecution witnesses, police and the [police intelligence], I guess they </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">plan to make sure that I go down” he told DVB. </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">He was released from detention on bail. Nay Myo Zin has the dubious distinction of being the 1</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">st </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">political prisoner under the nominally civilian regime. In good health upon his arrest, he has suffered from a broken hip bone and was in danger of becoming permanently paralyzed as the prison authorities refused to give him adequate medical treatment. His lawyer, Aung Hla, said the charges against Nay Myo Zin are unclear given that possessing a t-shirt with an image of Aung San is not illegal. This case shows that former military officers that are seen to work outside of state interests are held in particular contempt in the eyes of the regime. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 30</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Ex-</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">army captain facing „t</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">–</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">shirt‟ charge (DVB) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 24</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Former army captain to be tried again (Mizzima) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 15</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">My father‟s release from prison is good. But there is still no reform in Burma (The Guardian) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 3</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">rd </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Political Pris</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">oners‟ tragedy captured in video (Mizzima) </span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">National League for Democracy<br /> </span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">There were at least </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">58 </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">members of the NLD released as part of the presidential </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">order this month.<br /> Although the NLD has continued to make progress in forging political space for </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">itself in Burma, many of its members remain imprisoned. With the by-election announced for the 1</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">st </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">of April, the NLD campaign has been gathering momentum with the publication of the first issue of its journal on the 15</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">th </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">of January and Aung San Su Kyi drawing crowds while visiting supporters. Despite these positive signs, however, </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">with only 48 seats available in the upcoming election, the space in which the NLD has to initiate real change within the administration will be limited. The Thein Sein regime is keen to advertise how the NLD is taking part in its so-called democratic reforms but if many of its members are still in prison for exercising their political beliefs, it is a flawed </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">concession that the regime is making towards Burma‟s biggest democracy party. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">The NLD has also announced that it will attempt to repeal two controversial laws under which many political prisoners are jailed under; The Emergency Provisions Act and the Law Safeguarding the State of Subversive Elements. Despite this announcement, with </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">the regime‟s party, the USDP controlling the Parliament, even if the NLD win all </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">48 seats in the April by-election, there is little chance of the law being repealed. A similar attempt was made last year by Thein Nyunt, a member of the New National Democracy Party but he only received eight votes, revealing how the Thein Sein regime is fully behind such repressive laws. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 30</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">NLD will try to repeal unjust laws (Mizzima) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 21</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">st </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">165 political prisoners still detained, Myanmar‟s NLD says (Asahi Shimbum) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 16</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">NLD publishes first election newsletter (Irrawaddy) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 10</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Suu Kyi made party chief s vote draws near (DVB) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">December 30 </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Burma sets by-election for April 1 (VOA) </span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">88 Generation Students<br /> </span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">At least </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">29 </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">members of the 88 generation student group were released under the </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">recent amnesty on 13</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">th </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">January, including prominent leaders Ko Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Ko Kyaw Min Yu, Ko Pyone Cho, Ko Min Zeya and woman activists Ma Nilar Thein, Ma Thin Thin Aye @ Ma Mee Mee, Ma Hnin May Aung @ Nobel Aye and Ma Thet Thet Aung. All of the 88 generation students thought their release is a positive sign but they realized that there are still political prisoners in prisons across the country. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Some of those 88 generation student leaders including Myat Thu, Zin Mar Aung, Myat Ko, Myo Yannaung Thein, and Phyo Min Thein met the UK foreign minister Mr. Hague on the 6</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">th </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">of January, 2012 at the residence of the British ambassador in Rangoon. They discussed the matters of the April 1st by-election, ethnic affairs, the political prisoners and humanitarian issues during an hour long meeting.<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Ko Min Ko Naing articulated that “it is certain that the 88 group will stand alongside the people of Burma just as we did before,” he said. “We will reflect the people‟s voices and desires, and work on their behalf.” Afterwards, they </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">(Ko Htay Kwywe, Ko Ko Gyi) expressed their optimism for the current changes in Burma and some said that the media has a little more freedom and this can help to promote democracy and a little change in the political system. </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">“I see the constructive activities </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">by the new </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">administration” said Ko Kyaw Min Yu. </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">On the other hand, they clearly view that Burma is only at the beginning and the change is not completely genuine. Additionally, they </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">said “we need to continue working to accelerate change so as to be genuine” and hoped to see more “meaningful change.” </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Ko Min Ko Naing called for the need for a return to the rule of law in the country after half a century of military rule and to release all of remaining political prisoners, </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">saying that “There must be no political dissidents in Burma‟s prisons!” </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 24</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Min Ko Naing calls for rule of law (Irrawaddy) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 21</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">st </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">The last night in the cell (Irrawaddy) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 20</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Q & A </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">– </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Myanmar political prisoner Min Zeya looks to future after release (Trust.org) Q & A </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">– </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Myanmar releases political prisoner Htay Kywe (Trust.org)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 18</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Ko Ko Gyi: Changing face of Burma (DVB) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 13</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Min Ko Naing calls for peace in ethnic areas (Irrawaddy) Jimmy on way home to meet his daughter (Mizzima) </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 9</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">88-Generation students brief FM Hague (Mizzima) </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 6</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Suu Kyi reassures 88 Generation members (Irrawaddy) </span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">Ethnic Nationalities<br /> </span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">There were at least </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">24 </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">ethnic nationalities released as part of the presidential </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">order on 13 January.<br /> Those released included the well-known ethnic Shan leader U Khun Tun Oo, </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">SNLD party members, Chin activists Kam Lam Hkoap, Kayan activist Khun Bedu and an Arakanese monk Rammarwady Shin Pinnyasara who is a scholar of Arakan history, and was serving in Thayet prison were released. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">The U Thein Sein regime continues to hold peace talks, and agreed to a four point ceasefire on 12th January, with the Karen National Union (KNU) already has an improved relation with an ethnic Shan armed group, the Shan State Army (SSA-south). Despite this, the Burmese army has still been inflicting abuses on villagers who were supposedly accused of being close with the KNU. One Karen villager named Saw Ko Mya, 31 years old, a resident of Tantabin Township in Taungoo District was shot dead by government troops from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 540 on 24 December, 2011, on suspicion of being a rebel sympathizer. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Despite the regime saying that they will consider releasing the detained Karen </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">rebel leader Mahn Nyein Maung as a “Peace Gift” he is currently on trial</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">. Around 60 political prisoners who are linked with the KNU and 29 SSA members, including a well- known commander, Lt Col Khun Kyaw, 46, are still languishing in prison. Furthermore, an ethnic Kachin man, U Gum Sai, a section leader was taken by Burmese soldiers on 5</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">th </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">January, 2012, from Tar Law Gyi village for alleged links to the rebel Kachin Independent Army (KIA). His family members have not heard anything from him up to today. Another ethnic Kachin woman Daw Saun Laut Te Jar, mother of a child, who lived near Mupon Township, in Kachin state near Burma-China border, has been detained by the Burmese, Light Infantry Battalion LIB-321, for a few months</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">. </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">She was </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">told to cook, wash the soldiers‟ clothes and work as a sex slave. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Shan leader U Khun Tun Oo assumed that the political prisoners release is a first step and they need to work hard so as to return to political ground. He </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">can‟t say Burma </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">has significantly changed apart from media. </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Italic';">Colonel Saw Lwin (aka) Htay Aung, the joint-secretary of the Kayan New Land Party (KNLP), </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">who was so severely tortured that his tooth fell out during interrogation, said that all need to seriously watch the new </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">administration and one can‟t say Burma ha</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">s changed without the release of all political prisoners. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 27th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Jailed Karen leader facing trial again (Irrawaddy) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 26</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">KNU demand release of jailed leader (Karen News) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 25</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">NLD member to hire a lawyer for KNU‟s Padoh Mahn Nyein Maung (Karen News) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 19</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">SSA commander still in regime prison (Shan Herald) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 18th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Govt hints at release of KNU leader (Irrawaddy)<br /> KNU seeks the release of KNU-related prisoners (Mizzima)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 16</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Burmese troops nab govt employee (DVB)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 13</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">„We don‟t need food, we need news‟ (Mizzima)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">SNLD: Shan leaders freed, fight goes on (Shan Herald)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 12</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Karen army, Burma govt agree to ceasefire (DVB)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 7</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Arakanese demand release of Rammarwady Ashin Pinnyasara (Narinjara)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 6</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">„They kicked me a lot, and my tooth fell out‟ (Mizzima)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 5th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Army abuses, murder reported in Taungoo (Irrawaddy)<br /> Independence Day still meaningless, no Shan leaders released: Shan spokesman (Shanland) </span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">Monks<br /> </span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Although at least </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">35 </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">monks were released under amnesty on 13 January, 2012, </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">tension still exists between the U Thein Sein regime and its monks.<br /> Some of them shared their arrest and prison experience (</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">see Torture and </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">Treatment of Prisoners and their Families). </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Ashin Gambia said the government has transformed its external appearance into a civilian one but their efforts to implement democracy are still weak. He also added that the monks boycott had not </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">been lifted. “He </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">[Thein Sein] is one of the members of the group our boycott was aimed at. [The government] will have to apologize to the monks three times in order for the </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Pattaneikkujanakan [boycott] to be revoked.” </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">The 47-</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">member Maha Nayaka Sangha Council, Burma‟s offi</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">cial state council of Buddhist monks, had previously banned Ashin Pyinna Thiha from giving Dhamma talks for one year. In September, however, he spoke at the Mandalay office of National League for Democracy (NLD) party, where he vowed to keep working for peace in Burma and called for the release of political prisoners and the end of civil war. In addition, he also hosted a ceremony in December to mark 20 years since Aung San Su Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize, and met with visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Consequently, he was ordered to leave his monastery and agreed to follow the order of the Maha Nayaka Sangha Council of Rangoon, and leave the monastery within one month. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 9.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 25</span><span style="font-size: 6.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 9.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">A monk on a political mission of mercy (Irrawaddy) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 9.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 20</span><span style="font-size: 6.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 9.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Evicted Burmese monk pledges no return (DVB)<br /> Q & A </span><span style="font-size: 9.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">– </span><span style="font-size: 9.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Ex political prisoner Ashin Gambira says Myanmar struggle goes on (Trust.org) </span><span style="font-size: 9.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 19</span><span style="font-size: 6.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 9.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Evicted Buddhist abbot to leave monastery within one month (Irrawaddy)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 9.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 17</span><span style="font-size: 6.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 9.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Monks‟ boycott of govt remains: Gambira (DVB)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 9.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">16</span><span style="font-size: 6.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">th </span><span style="font-size: 9.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 9.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">„They ordered me to renounce my monkhood‟ (Mizzima)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 9.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 13</span><span style="font-size: 6.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 9.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Abbot is „on the road‟ (Mizzima) </span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">Cyclone Nargis Volunteers </span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">There is no news to report for January. </span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">Journalists, Bloggers and Writers (media activists) </span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">The 13</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">th </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">of January political prisoner amnesty, hailed by US President Obama as </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">a “substantial step forward” saw at least </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">13 </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">media activists released. The blogger Nay Phone Latt, was also freed, as were jailed reporters for </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Italic';">DVB including </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">U Zeya, Ko Win Maw, Hla Hla Win, and Sithu Zeya. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Video journalist Ko Win Maw, who served his 17 year prison sentence in four different prisons and Ko Sithu Zeya who served his sentence in two different prisons, both released on 13</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">th </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">of January, under amnesty, shared their prison experience. (</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">See Torture and Treatment of Prisoners and their Families) </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Despite being released, however, they both see that the change is only in the top administration but the officials on the ground have not changed. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Although the head of the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division (PSRD), told foreign media that his job should be abolished, new restrictions are being imposed on the country’s media. PSRD director Tint Swe also warned the editors of some of </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Burma’s leading news journals last week that “action will be taken” against publications </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">that don’t abide by the board’s guidelines, which include a ban on reporting subjects deemed sensitive to the stability of the state. Among the subject currently deemed off limits are: a decision by the official Buddhist monastic council, the Maha Nayaka Sangha, to evict the abbot of the Sadhu Pariyatti Monastery in Rangoon for his outspoken political views; alleged campaign irregularities by Burma’s ruling party; the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP); and coverage of a press conference by leading members of the 88 Generation Students group. For </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">instance, Aung San Su Kyi‟s su</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">pport and political reforms were allowed to be reported </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">but their views on Burma‟s ethnic conflicts were not allowed. “We thought that the </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">PSRD policy had softened, but now it i</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">s getting tough again,” said an </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">anonymous editor of a local journal. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Burma was ranked 169 in the ranking of countries with a free press in an analysis by Reporters Without Borders. Burma was in the bottom 10 in countries with the most restrictive free speech and press</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 27</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Mind the gap, Tint Swe tells Rangoon journals (Irrawaddy) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 25</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Press freedom ranking (Mizzima) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 23</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">rd </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Burma‟s censors tighten grip ahead of by</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">-election (Irrawaddy) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 20</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Q & A </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">– </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">No political prisoners in country governed by rule of law </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">– </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">ex Myanmar prisoner Win Maw (Trust.org) Q & A </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">–</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Former political prisoner Sithu Zeya talks about changes in Myanmar (Trust.org)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 13</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">DVB reporters freed, Obama hails releases (DVB) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 5</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Uncensored films finally see the light of day (Irrawaddy) </span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">Women </span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Although the presidential order saw the release of </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">27 </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">women political prisoners, there remain many more behind bars. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">The release included high profile prisoners such as Honey Oo and Nilar Thein. </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">The plight of Nilar Thein‟s daughter, Phyu Naychi, whose parents were both in jail for their political activities (Nilar Thein‟s husband, Kyaw Min Yu aka Jimmy was also released this month) was highlighted in the documentary, „</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Italic';">Into the Curr</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Italic';">ent’</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">. The forced </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">separation from her parents was a consequence of the regime‟s belligerence when </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">sentencing those who stand up for their basic rights. Even though both parents were </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">released, they were denied the first three years of their daughter‟s life. </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">On her release, Nilar Thein again expressed concern about the remaining political prisoners who are yet to be released. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Honey Oo was also released this month. A member of the reformed All Burma Federation of Students (ABFSU) she was arrested in 2008. While in prison she talked of the poor treatment and separation from her family while in a remote prison (</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">See Treatment of Prisoners and their Families</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">). She pledged to continue her work for the ABFSU despite spending more than four years in jail under the draconian part of the penal code prohibiting association and assembly. </span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">Human Rights Defenders & Promoters Network<br /> </span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">At least </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">10 </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Network activists were </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">released this month as part of the presidential order. </span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">Labor Activists<br /> </span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">At least </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">26 </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">labor activists were released this month as part of the presidential </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">order. </span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">Students </span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Included in the release were many students including 88 Generation members (</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">See 88 Generation Students) </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">All Burma Federation of Students Union (ABFSU) members such as Honey Oo (</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">See Women) </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">and All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) members. The ABSDF stated that 13 people who had ties with them had been released but 30 of its members remain in jail. Some of them have been imprisoned since the early nineties. Many of them were sentenced under explosives charges, and the regime is using this wrongful sentencing against them to presumably argue they should </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">not be considered “prisoners of conscience.” </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 18</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Student army laments jailed members (DVB) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 13</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">„I will continue as an ABFSU member‟ (Mizzima)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Freed Myanmar student activist draws enthusiastic crowds on his journey back home (Washington Post) </span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">Lawyers<br /> </span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">At least </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">1 </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">lawyer was released this month as part of the presidential order. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">The exiled group, Burma Lawyers Council, has called for the Unlawful Association Act to be repealed. It has often been used to imprison those the regime deems to be in opposition of them. It is a law that dates back nearly one hundred years but is still in use </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">today. A prime example is Sithu Zeya, who was released this month, after being given a lengthy sentence for being associated with an outlawed organization. The outlawed organizations include human rights groups, media groups and political parties. There are still many political prisoners in jail today under the Unlawful Association Act and if the regime is to show that it really is democratic, the arbitrary imprisonment of opposition activists under such a draconian and vague law must be stopped. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 30</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Lawyers urge end to politicized laws (DVB) </span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">Religious Minorities </span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">As the situation in the Christian dominated Kachin State continues to bring misery to its residents (</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">See Ethnic Nationalities</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">) the religious persecution of Christians in the area is another caveat to the oppressive nature of the Burmese military. Reports emerged this month of Burmese troops opening fire at members inside a catholic church, killing and injuring many. On Christmas day a man was shot dead who had no connection to the Kachin Independence Army and was merely returning from his farmland. It is clear that persecution of ethnic and religious minorities continues in Burma, despite the much lauded peace efforts of the Thein Sein regime in relation to Karen state, another state with a significant Christian population. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 11</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Burma‟s Christian civilians attacked during Christmas (Christian News Today) </span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">Individual Activists </span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">In a rare sign of dissent, a lone protester demonstrated against corruption and broken promises on the part of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). A former political prisoner who served 2 years for his part in The Saffron Revolution in 2007 showed great courage in a country where any kind of anti-regime demonstration is quickly halted. This was no exception. Riot police swiftly turned up and arrested him, taking him to a South Dagon police station. He was released with restrictions on his actions and awaiting a charge. This underlines the strict control that the regime still has over the people and the intolerance of any kind of dissent. A nonviolent, solo protest ends in arrest does not reflect a country granting people political freedoms. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 12</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Protester takes on Burma police – video (DVB) </span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">Daw Aung San Suu Kyi </span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">While Daw Aung San Suu Kyi believes that the U Thein Sein regime is following a </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">path toward reform, stating that Burma is on the verge of a „breakthrough‟ towards </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">democracy, this is not without doubts. She has expressed concern that the changes that have been made in the last few months are not irreversible and that there are factions in the military that she does not trust and have the potential to halt any progress. This became apparent after the first presidential order in which she shared the frustration of the many people angered and disappointed at the meager amount of prisoners released. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi continues to express her demand that all political prisoners should be released, whether the regime admits to their existence or not and the restoration of the rule of law would go a long way to solving the issue. It is a constant in her rhetoric, and was stated in an interview with the BBC this month. In a meeting with </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">88 Generation members‟ families she stated that she was sure that the remaining </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">political prisoners would be released, it is merely a matter of time. She also sought to explain the delay in the release after the disappointing day of the 4</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">th </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">of January when only 36 were released. She believed that it was powerful military hardliners who blocked a significant release. She also stated that despite the presidential order on 13</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">th </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">of January that sanctioned the release of at least 300 political prisoners, as confirmed by AAPP, there still more behind bars. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 20</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Freed prisoners add momentum, risks to Myanmar reform (Asahi Shimbun)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">An interview with Burma‟s democracy activist, Aung San Suu Kyi (Washington Post) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 18</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Aung San Suu Kyi registers for Burma election run (BBC) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 13</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Burma on the verge of breakthrough (Irrawaddy) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 10</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Suu Kyi made party chief s vote draws near (DVB) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 6</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Suu Kyi says Burma army could block reforms (Irrawaddy) Suu Kyi reassures 88 Generation members (Irrawaddy) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 5</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Suu Kyi: Burma democracy in my lifetime (BBC) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 4</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Change is not quick, yet Suu Kyi reaffirms confidence in president (Irrawaddy) </span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">Key International Developments </span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">The U Thein Sein regime has continued to be active in the international arena, both regionally and with the west. January has seen a continuation of high-level visitors coming to Burma to meet with members of the regime and the opposition while the 2 releases have provoked debate and comment on political prisoners. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">After the disappointment of the first presidential order, on 3 January, there was strong criticism from around the globe. During talks with both sides last month, Secretary of State for the US, Hillary Clinton articulated that positive steps towards democracy by the regime would be matched by easing of US policy towards Burma. The paltry number of political prisoners released was clearly not enough, with Victoria </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Nuland, a spokesperson for the State Department commenting, “It‟s not a step of the magnitude we would be interested in matching.” She also state</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">d that the US considers that one political prisoner is too many and again called for the release of all political prisoners. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">The British Foreign Minister, William Hague visited Burma on the 5</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">th </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">of January </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">expressing that, “My message is, if you want those </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">sanctions – those restrictive measures as we call them – lifted, then it is very important to show that you are completing this process of reform. We believe now that you are sincere about it, so now get ahead quickly and complete it by releasing the remaining political prisoners and by showing </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">that the upcoming elections are free and fair.” Hague‟s meeting with the regime‟s foreign </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">minister. Wunna Maung Lwin, gave cause for optimism as he received promises that there was a commitment to release political prisoners. In an interview with BBC Burmese after the meeting, however, Wunna Maung Lwin denied the existence of political prisoners, stating that only criminals remained in jail. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Human Rights Watch released a report in which it stated that the reforms have </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">“failed to seriously address the dire human rights situation in the country” and that “Burma continues to imprison hundreds for peaceful acts of free expression.” The </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">report also called for a monitoring mechanism led by the UN Commissioner for Human Rights to be allowed into Burma to report on the conditions inside prisons and to establish the number of political prisoners. The Burmese regime has rejected this idea, citing the sham visit made by its own body, the Myanmar Human Rights Commission to Insein prison. The findings of which contradict the information provided by recently released prisoners. </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">(See Torture and Treatment of Prisoners and their Families) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">The US, among other nations, praised the 13 January release while urging the release of those who remain. Immediately after the release the US announced that they would swap ambassadors, for the first time in over 20 years. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Ban Ki-Moon praised the prisoner release and also announced that he would visit Burma soon and that Vijay Nambiar would become full-time special envoy to the country. The Special Rapporteur for the human rights situation in Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana also welcomed the release of political prisoners but expressed concern for those remaining. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">It is important to remember, however, that despite the release of these prisoners, many in the international community realize that there are more remaining in prison. </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">To quote William Hague during his visit at the beginning of this month “It is very </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">important that we do not relax the pressures p</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">rematurely.” </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 31</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">st </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">EU keeps the pressure up on Burma (DVB) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 30</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">‘</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">An </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">important time in Myanmar‟s history‟ UN human rights expert visits (UNOHCHR) </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 27</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Future of UN probe into Burma in doubt (DVB) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 26</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Vijay Nambiar appointed as UNSC‟s special adviser on Myanmar (Times of India) </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Ban to visit Burma; Nambiar named envoy (Irrawaddy)<br /> US lawmaker notes progress in Burma (VOA) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 25</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Obama praises Burma govt reforms (Irrawaddy)<br /> EU sanctions move triggers heated debate (DVB)<br /> EU mulling EURO 150m aid package for Myanmar (EU business) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 24</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Norway companies „readying for Burma‟: FM (DVB) </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Burma rights body lays into HRW report (DVB)<br /> Pakistani President eyes trade on Burma visit (DVB)<br /> NGO warns of rights abuses amid EU praise (EU Observer) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 23</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">rd </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">EU to begin lifting sanctions on Burma (DVB)<br /> Free elections for US sanctions: McCain (Irrawaddy)<br /> Council conclusions on Burma/Myanmar (The Council of the European Union) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 21</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">st </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">US senators signal conditional support for lifting Burma sanctions (VOA) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 19</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">EU could lift sanctions by February (DVB)<br /> Burma is changing, so where is Ashton? (EU Business)<br /> Shift away from sanctions gathers steam (Irrawaddy)<br /> Lifting Myanmar sanctions in play if April vote fair: McCain (Reuters) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 18</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">McConnell hails Burmese president Thein Sein as genuine reformer (Irrawaddy) A Burma balancing act (Wall Street Journal) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 17</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">US to review sanctions after by-elections (DVB)<br /> Top US Senate Republican upbeat on Burma reform (Bangkok Post)<br /> Philippines urges lifting of international sanctions on Myanmar amid its political reforms (Washington Post) France to triple its aid to Burma (Irrawaddy) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 16</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Ban, world leaders welcome dissident release (Irrawaddy)<br /> Myanmar: UN expert welcomes prison release, calls for further progress on human rights protections (OHCHR) Ethnic issue key to ending sanctions: McConnell (Irrawaddy) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 15</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">French foreign minister meets Burmese opposition figure (VOA) EU to reward Myanmar with reforms: French FM (EU Business) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 14</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Australia welcomes release of political prisoners in Myanmar (Monsters and Critics) Norway abolishes Burma sanctions (The Foreigner)<br /> Japan eager to promote economic activity in Myanmar (Asahi Shimbum) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 13</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">DVB reporters freed, Obama hails releases (DVB)<br /> Burma frees top dissidents, feelings mixed (DVB)<br /> French FM Juppé to visit Burma (Irrawaddy)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Danish govt to focus on Burma‟s borders (Irrawaddy)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Top US Senate Republican to visit Myanmar (AFP)<br /> Statement by the President on the release of Burmese political prisoners (White House)<br /> Ban welcomes prisoner release and other important moves by Myanmar authorities (UN News Centre) </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Myanmar: Political prisoner release „major step‟ but gates must open „even wider‟ (Amnesty International) </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Burma: Political prisoners released (Human Rights Watch) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 12</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Red carpet (DVB)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Britain plants stake in Myanmar‟s future (Al</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">-Jazeera) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 11</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Burma open for business (Irrawaddy)<br /> ASEAN calls for end to Myanmar sanctions (Straits Times) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 10</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">NZ to look at relationship with Myanmar (Radio New Zealand) U.S. </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">– </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Japan officials discuss Burma issues (Mizzima)<br /> US officials gauge post-Clinton progress (DVB)<br /> Wrong signal </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">– Ausralia‟s easing of sanctions (Mizzima) </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Burma on the path to reform, but obstacles remain (VOA) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 9</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Australia easing Burma sanctions (The Age)<br /> Britain balancing hope and skepticism in Burma (DVB) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 7</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">US lawmaker, 2 diplomats to visit Burma (VOA) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 6</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">EU to open office, play „political role‟ (DVB)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Top US officials to travel to Burma (Irrawaddy)<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Suu Kyi calls British FM „good friend‟ (Mizzima) UK says microfinance key to Burma‟s growth </span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">(DVB) Sanctions on Burma to remain: Hague (DVB) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">Foreign Secretary remarks at his press conference in Burma (FCO) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 5</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">William Hague to urge reform on visit to Burma (BBC) George Soros to open first Burma office (DVB)<br /> Is democracy finally coming to Burma? (The Guardian) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 4</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">th </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">US disappointed in political prisoner release (Mizzima)<br /> US urges release of all political prisoners in Burma (Irrawaddy) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 3</span><span style="font-size: 5.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; vertical-align: 2.000000pt;">rd </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">US keeps pressure on Myanmar for political change (NPR)<br /> For regional powers, economic interests trump principled policy in Myanmar (World Politics Review) </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">January 2nd </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%);">In Burma, visiting dignitaries line up to ride crest of change (VOA</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">) </span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold';">Conclusion </span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">The month of January saw a significant shift in the political prisoner situation in Burma, with recent events sparking Western countries to consider lifting sanctions to reward the reforms in the country. The 13</span><span style="font-size: 8.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'; vertical-align: 3.000000pt;">th </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">of January will be positively referred to as a </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">watershed moment in Burma‟s history, as the most substantial and significant release of </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">political prisoners in Burma took place on that day. Prominent political prisoners who hold key positions in the opposition movement were released to the jubilation of many, including AAPP staff. However, the international community must not forget that political prisoners remain behind bars, and arbitrary/unlawful arrests continue to plague innocent victims. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">For this reason, now more than ever, there must be an independent investigation </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">to verify the remaining number of political prisoners in Burma‟s jails and detention </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">centers. These political prisoners, who never should have been imprisoned in the first place, run a real risk of being forgotten and having their plight overshadowed by the so- called democratic process in Burma. The names and details of those in prison must be recorded and brought to the attention of the Thein Sein regime, so as to secure their immediate and unconditional release. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">The number of political prisoners, while important information, is not a genuine reflection of the state of civil and political liberties in the country. The figure of political prisoners, which hovered around 2,000 since 2007, is now at pre-Saffron levels. This decrease is being hailed as a symbol of progress, however before Saffron, that over 1,000 political prisoners were behind bars were sources of indignation and reasons for imposing economic sanctions in the first place. Worse, there are unsettling trends of different types of arrest emerging in Burma that do not necessarily place the victim in a prison. For example, the latest spate of village arrests of monks deemed political is indicative of the continued level of repression ordinary Burmese continue to face, while those outside spout democratic reform. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">The level of harassment endured by ethnic nationalities at the hands of the Burmese military is cause for growing concern, and undermines any pretense of a peace process being forced by the U Thein Sein regime. There are reports of village leaders being abducted by the army, and Kachin villagers are being arrested en masse. The case of Mahn Nyein Maung, a KNU leader who is currently in Insein prison serving a 6 </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">month sentence, is revealing of the regime‟s deceptive nature and political doublespeak. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Although Mahn Nyein Maung was told by Burmese authorities that his freedom would be granted if he aided in negotiations with the KNU, a ludicrous concession given that his freedom should be subject to political barter, Mahn Nyein Maung is now facing further charges. The prolonged imprisonment of Mahn Nyein Maung will foster distrust among the KNU, who have emphasized the need to build trust among the people as a main condition of ceasefire negotiations. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">The upcoming by-elections on 1 April should not be a key benchmark for the international community. Even if all 48 available seats are allotted to the opposition, the ruling party will still have a sizeable majority. A clearer indication of democratic reforms is the treatment of both former and current political prisoners, as well as the level which ordinary Burmese are able to exercise their most fundamental freedoms, free from harassment. That political prisoners continue to be used as hostages in a merciless tit for tat game is indication enough that there has been little improvement. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">The international community must not substitute human rights for political </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">expediency. We must now take advantage of the current situation and open Burma‟s </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">prison doors wider to independent human rights monitors. It is the only way to achieve justice for those who have suffered far too long behind bars. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">For more information:<br /> </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Tate Naing (Secretary): +66 (0) 81 287 8751 </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia';">Bo Kyi (Joint Secretary): +66 (0) 81 962 8713 </span></p> <p>Download PDF File in Below</p> <p><a href="https://aappb.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/1-Monthly-Chronology-of-Burma-Political-Prisoners-for-January-2012-Eng.pdf">1-Monthly Chronology of Burma Political Prisoners for January 2012 </a></p> <div class="essb-pinterest-pro-content-marker" style="display: none !important;"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="footer-wrap"> <div class="footer"> <div class="footer-widget-wrap"> <!-- show footer widget --> <div class="footer-widget-left"> <div class="textwidget"><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), otherwise known as AAPP, is a human rights organization based in Mae Sot, Thailand and Rangoon, Burma. AAPP advocates for the release of all remaining political prisoners in Burma and for the improvement of their quality of life during and after incarceration. AAPP has developed rehabilitation and assistance programs for those political activists who have been released while continuing to document the ongoing imprisonment of political activists in Burma.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As long as political prisoners exist inside Burma, Burma will not be free. They represent the struggle for democracy, human rights, equality and freedom for the people of Burma. This makes the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners an integral part of Burma’s drive for national reconciliation.</span></p> </div> </div> <div class="footer-widget-right"> <h2 class="widgettitle">Address</h2> <div class="textwidget"><p>Thailand:<br /> PO Box 93<br /> Mae Sot<br /> Tak Province, Thailand, 63110</p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For all enquiries or if you need any further information, please </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://aappb.org/?page_id=22">contact us here</a>.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="footer-copyright"> Copyright © 2014-2021 All rights reserved <a href="https://aappb.org">Assistance Association for Political Prisoners</a> <br /> <a href="https://bordermedia.org" target="_blank">Website</a> by <a href="https://bordermedia.org" target="_blank">Bordermedia</a> <script type="text/javascript">panopress.imagebox();</script> <button type="button" aria-controls="rmp-container-22913" 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