Sources: AAPP

 On 13 March, Burma’s Human Rights Day, a global signature campaign will start. Free Burma’s Political Prisoners Now! is jointly run by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) and the Forum for Democracy in Burma, and aims to collect 888,888 signatures before 24 May 2009, the legal date that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi should be released from house arrest. There are currently over 2,100 political prisoners in Burma.

The petition calls on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to make it his personal priority to secure the release of all political prisoners in Burma, as the essential first step towards democracy in the country. The target symbolises 8.8.88, the day the junta massacred some 3,000 people who courageously protested in Burma’s largest democracy uprising. Over 100 pro-democracy groups in exile and Burma solidarity groups around the world will work together to take global popular action for the prisoners.

Put Burma On The UN Security Council Agenda!

The AAPP supports the worldwide campaign to place Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council. We are requesting the personal involvement of the Secretary General, Kofi Annan, in bringing the SPDC into dialouge with the NLD and ethnic groups. Such an action would spur the regime into an ernest transition to democracy. Only when Burma is a democracy that respects human rights will the arbitrary detention and torture of political prisoners end.

STOP Torture in Burma!

Torture in Burma is state policy. Since 1988, the SPDC has imprisoned and tortured thousands of individuals suspected of political dissent. The AAPP has released a report detailing the regime's methods of torture and its effect on political prisoners and their families.

Free All Political Prisoners!

All political prisoners must be released immediately and unconditionally. There are 1992 political prisoners in Burma currently. Their release, and an end to future arbitrary arrests and detentions, would signal the beginning of an ernest transition to democracy.

To join this campaign, write to your MPs asking them to call for the release of all political prisoners; write to the military regime demanding their release; speak out where ever you can about such unjust imprisonments; support the work of the AAPP on behalf of political prisoners in Burma.