Despite the president’s promise to rid Burma’s jails of political prisoners by the end of 2013, a leading advocacy group claims that the number of prisoners of conscience has increased over the past year.
DVB spoke with prominent activist and former Burmese army captain, Nay Myo Zin, this week about participating in peaceful protests and how it can lead to clashes with the government.
Two well-known activists have been sentenced to three months in prison for violating Burma’s controversial Right to Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Act, after staging a rally without prior permission from local authorities.
Five members of two opposition parties were charged by local police in Pegu Division for leading an unauthorised demonstration against enacting a proportional representation (PR) voting system for the country’s elections, which was one of the central issues of the latest parliamentary session.
Burma’s Committee for Scrutinizing Remaining Prisoners of Conscience is to submit a list recommending the release of 82 political prisoners and charges dropped against more than 200 persons who were detained under Section 18.
