Shan Activists Call for Release of Political Prisoners

By SAW YAN NAING
The Irrawaddy
www.irrawaddy.org

February 11, 2008 - Shan people all over the world held prayer ceremonies and candlelit vigils on Sunday calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners in Burma, including pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and prominent Shan leader, Hkun Htun Oo.

Campaigners held ceremonies in ten different countries, including Thailand, Singapore, Japan, the United States, Great Britain and Australia.

Shan activists also urged the international community to pressurize the Burmese military government to release all political prisoners immediately, implement a nationwide ceasefire and enhance tripartite dialogue with the National League for Democracy and representatives of the ethnic nationalities.

In the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai, about 80 people—mostly ethnic Shan—participated in a prayer ceremony and candlelight vigil at Wat Ku Tao monastery on Sunday.

Hkun Htun Oo is currently detained in Putao prison in northern Kachin State, upper Burma, and his health has seriously deteriorated in the past few months. According to a joint statement by Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN) and Shan Youth Power, Hkun Htun Oo is suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and prostate problems.

Hkun Htun Oo, 64, an elected leader of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, was arrested in February 2005 with other Shan State leaders for their advocacy of political reform.

Sai Awn Tai, one of the organizers of the Chiang Mai vigil, said, “A genuine federal union should be built on principles of justice and equality. Yet the regime, by imprisoning elected ethnic leaders and proceeding with its own coercive constitution-drafting process, has shown its complete contempt for these principles.”

Shan activists also expressed concerned about the health of seven other detained Shan leaders who were arrested with Hkun Htun Oo. One of those leaders, Myint Than, died in Sandoway prison in Arakan state in May 2006, according to Shan Women’s Action Network.

Hkun Htun Oo was sentenced to 93 years in jail for treason and defamation of the state, while the other Shan leaders received sentences of between 75 and 106 years, according to a statement issued by SWAN.

There are at least 1,864 political prisoners currently detained in Burmese prisons, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma).