Myanmar elections: activists ask for release of political prisoners

Myanmar’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) called on President Thein Sein to demand a release of all political prisoners and students jailed earlier this year. Here is the original statement issued by Assistant Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) (AAPP) and Former Political Prisoners Society (FPPS) jointly as an important step towards democratization. Here is the original statement –

“Assistant Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) (AAPP) and Former Political Prisoners Society (FPPS) jointly call for the release of all political prisoners prior to the signing of the National Ceasefire Agreement and the 2015 General Election, if national peace and reconciliation is to take effect. The people of Burma, as well as the international community, are looking to the ceasefire and the election as defining moments for Burma’s future as a peaceful, democratic state.

Not releasing political prisoners before these historic events will only serve to obstruct Burma’s progression toward a peaceful, democratic state. These people are actively working towards strengthening and bettering Burma for the good of all its people, and the arbitrary arrest and incarceration of people on political grounds is detrimental to the progression of the state.

AAPP and FPPS calls on the government to release political activists and those facing trial, who are concerned with political and civil rights, before the 2015 General Election and the National Ceasefire Agreement.

In addition to this AAPP and FPPS urge the all political parties, Members of Parliament and ethnic armed organizations who plan to sign the National Ceasefire Agreement to call on the government to end its oppression of political activists and release them unconditionally.”