Free All Political Prisoners in Burma
After an election held in Burma last year, power was supposedly transferred from the military junta to a civilian government. But observers have criticized the fairness of the election, as the pro-military party led by Thein Sein received the vast majority of votes.
Thein Sein is described by some as a moderate or reformist. His actions since taking office, however, suggest otherwise. Nearly 2,000 political prisoners including Buddhist monks and journalists remain locked up in Burma. If the new regime is serious about reform, these political prisoners should be released immediately. Tell the President he must free them without delay to prove his commitment to reform.
Since taking office in March, you have been described by some as a moderate looking to cautiously initiate reforms in Burma. Your meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi was a good gesture, but falls short of type of real reform the country needs.
As you know, there are currently 2,000 political prisoners still held in Burma. These include Buddhist monks who demonstrated peacefully for democracy in 2007, and journalists, including reporters from the Democratic Voice of Burma. If you expect the international community to believe you are serious about bringing change to Burma, please immediately and unconditionally release all prisoners of conscience.
