Hundreds of Arrested Demonstrators Still Behind Bars, Says AI

By WAI MOE

More than 700 people arrested during and after the September 2007 demonstrations remain behind bars, according to Amnesty International (AI). At least 40, including seven monks, have been given prison sentences for their part in the demonstrations, AI said in a report released in London on Monday.

Three of those imprisoned had been punished for giving water to demonstrating monks, the AI report said.

AI said that apart from those still held for participating in the September demonstrations, 1,150 political prisoners were still behind bars in Burma.

Sentences passed on arrested demonstrators, who had been peacefully exercising their human rights, appeared to be politically motivated, AI said.

AI listed the names of the 40 convicted demonstrators, who included several leading activists and monks.

Bo Kyi, Joint Secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners-Burma, said that the AI report reflected the real nature of Burma’s legal system.

Prisoners were being tortured at “secret centers,” said Bo Kyi. Two recently arrested student activists, Kyaw Ko Ko and Nyan Lin Aung, appeared to be held at these secret interrogation centers—“Their families don’t know where they are…we are very concerned about them.”