Arrests of Political Activists Increase in Myanmar
Posted on January 25, 2008 - Filed Under conflict |
Political activists continue to be imprisoned in Myanmar, according to new research by Amnesty International. There have been 96 arrests since November 2007. All this despite assurances from Myanmar’s ruling family that it would halt arrests, which began during pro-democracy rallies in September.
“Four months on from the violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrators, rather than stop its unlawful arrests the Myanmar government has actually accelerated them,†said Catherine Baber, director of Amnesty International Asia-Pacific programme. “The new arrests in December and January target people who have attempted to send evidence of the crackdown to the international community, clearly showing that the government’s chief priority is to silence its citizens who would hold them to account.â€
According to the report, at least 700 people arrested during and since the protests started remain behind bars, while 1,150 political prisoners held prior to the protests have not been released. More than 80 persons remain unaccounted for since demonstrations and are likely the victims of enforced disappearance.
To view a list of those who have been arrested, click here.
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