Kashmir Watch, Feb 20

By Nava Thakuria

The Burmese military rulers, who are trying to earn credibility from
international communities after declaring the general election some
time in October this year, has received a brickbat from the Amnesty
International.

The London based influential rights body has warned the military junta
of Burma (Myanmar) ‘halt its repression of ethnic minority activists
before forthcoming national and local elections’.

The Amnesty International, in a major report released on February 16,
stated that ‘the repression of ethnic minority activists in Myanmar,
draws on accounts from more than 700 activists from the seven largest
ethnic minorities, including the Rakhine, Shan, Kachin and Chin,
covering a two-year period from August 2007’.

“The authorities have arrested, imprisoned and in some cases
torturedor even killed ethnic minority activists. Minority groups have
also faced extensive surveillance, harassment and discrimination when
trying to carry out their legitimate activities,” added in the 58 page
report.

Speaking to this writer from Bangkok, Benjamin Zawacki, the Burma
issue expert of Amnesty International, said, “Ethnic minorities play
an important but seldom acknowledged role in Burma’s political
opposition. The military regime has responded to this activism in a
heavy-handed manner, raising fears that repression will intensify
before the elections.”

“Activism in Burma is not confined to the central regions and urban
centres. Any resolution of the country’s deeply troubling human rights
record has to take into account the rights and aspirations of the
country’s large population of ethnic minorities,” added Benjamin
Zawacki.

Mentionable that the State Peace and Development Council ruled country is going to hold its general elections this year after 1990. In the
last polls, the opposition force led by National League for Democracy
had won most of the seats, but they were not handed over the power.
Rather the military dictators started oppressing activities towards the elected opposition leaders as well as their sympathisers.

Even the NLD chief Aung San Suu Kyi was put under detention and the Nobel laureate lady is still under house arrest. Various opposition
political party leaders had urged the Nay Pie Taw to release the great
lady before the proposed elections.

Mentionable that there are nearly 2,100 political prisoners, including
many from ethnic minorities in Burma and the government has not
committed for their release before the polls, such that they can
participate in the exercise.

Amnesty International has also urged the government to lift
restrictions on freedom of association, assembly and religion in the
run-up to the elections; to release immediately and unconditionally
all prisoners of conscience; and to remove restrictions on independent
media to cover the campaigning and election process.

“The government of Myanmar should use the elections as an opportunity to improve its human rights record, not as a spur to increase repression of dissenting voices, especially those from the ethnic minorities,” asserted Benjamin Zawacki.

Finally, the rights body had called on the neighbouring countries of
Burma including the members of Association of South East Asian
Nations, to push the government to ensure that the people in the
Southeast Asian country would be able to freely express their
opinions, gather peacefully and participate openly in the political
process.

Author can be reached at: navathakuria@gmail.com