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Healthcare aid sought for political prisoners

May 8, 2018/in News

CHAN THAR 07 MAY 2018 Ex-political prisoners have sought the help of the government in the rehabilitation of thousands of so-called prisoners of conscience who were incarcerated for decades for fighting for their beliefs and for the return of democracy in Myanmar. “The organisations helping ex-political prisoners can’t reach the whole country. There were many incidents […]

UN Security Council must act to end ongoing crimes against humanity in northern Burma

May 5, 2018/in Member statements

Statement by the Kachin Women’s Association of Thailand UN Security Council must act to end ongoing crimes against humanity in northern Burma We welcome the UNSC delegation’s historic visit to Burma from April 30 to May 1, 2018, which highlighted the large-scale displacement from northern Rakhine State, but we are disappointed that the UNSC delegates […]

Healthcare aid sought for political prisoners

May 8, 2018/in News

UN Security Council must act to end ongoing crimes against humanity in northern Burma

May 5, 2018/in Member statements

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Healthcare aid sought for political prisoners

May 8, 2018/in News

CHAN THAR 07 MAY 2018

Ex-political prisoners have sought the help of the government in the rehabilitation of thousands of so-called prisoners of conscience who were incarcerated for decades for fighting for their beliefs and for the return of democracy in Myanmar.

“The organisations helping ex-political prisoners can’t reach the whole country. There were many incidents where ex-political prisoners died because they could not afford cost of medical treatment or they did not have enough food,” said Daw Mie Mie from the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society.

“The incumbent government should take responsibility [for the prisoners] as a special duty,” she said during a forum, “Rehabilitation of Ex-Political Prisoners,” held at Yangon Book Plaza on Friday.

Former political prisoners who fought against the military regimes that ruled Myanmar for decades have suffered a lot physical and emotional damage while in detention, U Zaw Moe of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) said.

“When they came out of jail, due to financial difficulties, they had to face rehabilitation problems again,” said U Zaw Moe, who is in charge of historical records and research for AAPP.

“Although organisations like us are giving assistance to ex-political prisoners, we can’t cover the whole country. It can all be covered only if the government helps. The government should not ignore them,” he added.

According to reports released by the Former Political Prisoners Society and the AAPP, there were from 7000 to 10000 political prisoners in Myanmar from 1962 to 2016, and 80 percent of them lived in poor conditions.

“Free medical check-ups for them at public hospitals and local clinics should be provided,” Daw Mie Mie said.

Requesting free medical check-ups for ex-political prisoners at public hospitals and local clinics is not asking for a special privilege, said writer Ma Thida (Sanchaung).

“We want just to have specific public hospitals for giving treatment to ex-political prisoners. So, the government first needs to acknowledge political prisoners,” she said. “The list of them is now in the hands of the government. When it sets a policy to give free medical treatment to ex-political prisoners, all the processes can be easily done.”

After their release from prisons, the former political prisoners suffer from chronic diseases, including liver disease, which they got while in confinement, and they need healthcare services, she added.

To help former political prisoners, a healthcare centre was opened on Khatawmi 1 street near Dagon University in Dagon East township on February 3.

The centre run by the Ministry of Health and Sports provides medicine and other needs for political prisoners who need healthcare. They can also receive treatment at Hanthawadi U Win Tin Foundation Philanthropic Clinic every Saturday and Wednesday.

Current President U Win Myint, who is a former political prisoner, released 37 fellow prisoners of conscience on April 17.

The newly elected president also abrogated the rules and limitations placed on political prisoners who have been released under Ruling Law Section 401(1).

Political society welcomed and supported the actions of the president and called for the immediate release of the remaining political prisoners and people who are accused of political crimes.

The AAPP said around 13 political prisoners still remain in prison, and there are around 74 people who are facing trial while under detention. The organisation said 121 people have to fight lawsuits while under bail.

Myanmar Times

UN Security Council must act to end ongoing crimes against humanity in northern Burma

May 5, 2018/in Member statements

Statement by the Kachin Women’s Association of Thailand

UN Security Council must act to end ongoing crimes against humanity in northern Burma

We welcome the UNSC delegation’s historic visit to Burma from April 30 to May 1, 2018, which highlighted the large-scale displacement from northern Rakhine State, but we are disappointed that the UNSC delegates did not visit northern Burma, or make any mention of the ongoing Burma Army offensives and crimes against humanity also taking place there.

The UNSC’s failure to look at other parts of Burma clearly emboldened the Burma Army, who brazenly continued attacks, including heavy shelling, in six townships on April 30, and blocked thousands of IDPs from seeking safe refuge even while the UNSC delegates were in the country.

The current protests by thousands of youth and other community members in Myitkyina calling for safe passage of the IDPs, started on April 30, during the UNSC visit. Solidarity actions are now being held by youth in other parts of Burma, who are outraged at the Burma Army’s cruel entrapment of innocent civilians, many of them women, elderly and children.

In fact, the patterns of violations committed by the Burma Army in northern Rakhine State are the same as those which communities in other ethnic areas have suffered for decades. Particularly since the renewal of conflict in June 2011, Kachins have been enduring systematic rape, torture and killing at the hands of the Burma Army, leading to displacement of over 120,000 people.

Alarmingly, the military operations against the Kachin this year are taking place in a much wider area than in previous years, including not just eastern Kachin State but also western and central Kachin State, where Naypyidaw is accelerating large-scale development and exploitation of the rich natural resources in these areas, including jade, amber, gold, timber and hydropower.

Areas now targeted include Sumprabum and Injangyang townships in central Kachin State, where giant Chinese dams are planned on the Irrawaddy headwaters, as well as Danai and Mogaung townships where the Ledo Road is being developed as part of China’s One Belt One Road Initiative.

As outrage mounts around the country against the Burma Army for their brazen crimes, we urge the UN Security Council to take immediate action to pressure the Burma Army to immediately end their offensives and systematic violations throughout the country, so that inclusive political dialogue can begin towards federal democratic reform in Burma.

We therefore urge the UN Security Council:

To refer the situation in Burma to the International Criminal Court
To impose a global arms embargo on Burma
To place targeted sanctions on military officers responsible for crimes against humanity or other serious human rights violations.

Contacts: Mrs. Moon Nay Li +66 (0) 855 2337 91

Mrs. San Htoi +95 (0) 942 3076 625

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ND Burma

ND-Burma formed in 2004 in order to provide a way for Burma human rights organizations to collaborate on the human rights documentation process. The 13 ND-Burma member organizations seek to collectively use the truth of what communities in Burma have endured to advocate for justice for victims. ND-Burma trains local organizations in human rights documentation; coordinates members’ input into a common database using Martus, a secure open-source software; and engages in joint-advocacy campaigns.

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ND Burma

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