Rights group joins hunger striker in call for all political prisoners to be freed

27 October 2015
Rights group joins hunger striker in call for all political prisoners to be freed
Aung Hmaing San (C), student leader, gets out from the police vehicle at Township court in Letpadan, Bago division, Myanmar, 11 March 2015. Photo: EPA

The Human Rights Defenders Forum has joined imprisoned activist U Aung Hmaing San’s call for the release of all political prisoners ahead of Myanmar’s November 8 elections.
In a press release by the Human Rights Defenders Forum Steering Committee, issued on October 27, the group called for support for U Aung Hmaing San’s call.
“It has been five days since student leader Aung Hmaing San began a hunger strike in Thayarwaddy prison, calling for the release of all the political prisoners across Myanmar. Aung Hmaing San was arrested alongside many other students and supporters when police brutally cracked down on their protest camp in Lapadan Township, Bago Region. More than 70 individuals were arrested, charged and sent to prison in early 2015 for their roles in protests against the National Education Law. 
According to Assistance Association for Political Prisoners – Burma and Amnesty International, there are nearly 100 political prisoners currently in Myanmar with hundreds more awaiting trial. Just in the past weeks, we have witnessed another series of arrests of human rights defenders for peaceful activities, including Chaw Sandi Tun, Patrick Kum Jaa Lee, Khin Khin Kyaw, Htin Kyaw, Zaw Lu Soe, and numerous others, the press release says.
While Human Rights Defenders Forum (HRDF) is concerned for Aung Hmaing San’s health, we stand with him in his call for the release of all political prisoners, who are currently detained for their peaceful activism and for exercising their rights to freedom of opinion and expression, assembly and association. Prison authorities must ensure that Aung Hmaing San has full access to information and healthcare without restriction. 
HRDF condemns all forms of continuing oppression and persecution against peaceful activists and human rights defenders. HRDF, therefore, calls on the government to immediately and unconditionally release Aung Hmaing San and all other political prisoners and detainees and drop all pending charges against human rights defenders who are facing trials simply for exercising their human rights.