BURMESE ORGAZATION'S NEWS
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Free Min Ko Naing Campaign in Canada
Press Release #1 (Jan 8, 2001)
Burmese Students' Democratic Organization (Canada)
With the initiative of International Center for Human Rights and Democracy Development (ICHRDD), Burmese and Canadian activists are now jointly working for "Free Min Ko Naing Campaign" in Canada. It is the first time to carry out such a widespread action for an imprisoned Burmese student leader in Canada.
Min Ko Naing who is a prominent student leader and a long-time
political prisoner in Burma was detained by Burmese military regime in 1989, and subsequently sentenced to a lengthy imprisonment for his role in 1988 Democracy movement. He was the chairman of All Burma Students' Union and a 3rd year physic student at Rangoon University during the uprising. Now, he has been in prisons for almost 12 years, and there is no sign and gesture indicated from the military regime for his freedom although the prison term imposed on him was reportedly expired.
Last year, he was transferred from Insein prison in the capital city of Burma to Sittway (Akkyet) prison in Araken State. This is an apparent attempt to prevent his family to visit him and a systematic method to cut off the incoming international attention on him. It is also reported that for his family to see him is extremely difficult, and it usually takes six months to one year to be able to see him due to the large expense and extended distance for transportation. Despite the fact that he is one of 1500 political prisoners in today's Burma, he became a model and emblem of all political prisoners who has been sentenced for their belief in fundamental freedoms and advocacy for Democracy in Burma.
Therefore, a group of Burmese and Canadian activists from Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB) and Burmese Students' Democratic Organization (BSDO) are stimulated to take action against this arbitrary act on him and finally driven to facilitate a collected action for his
deliverance. In addition, the inception of this campaign in Canada was more enhanced to gear up when he was publicly honored for his
dedication in the struggle for Democracy with the prize of "John Humpery Freedom Award" in 1999 by ICHRDD. This campaign is widely collaborated by various Canadian student groups and local pressure groups of Toronto and Vancouver Burma roundtables.
The ongoing campaign contains a wide range of actions. These are of holding and joining in various gatherings on different university campuses as well as on other special and occasional events, thereby asking those who interested to request the military to set him free by sending postcards affixed with his picture. In order to be more effective and spread out all over the country, sixty thousands of postcards were published and thousands of postcards have so far been distributed, especially at the provinces of Ontario and British
Columbia. More similar events are also being planned to carry out in large.
Furthermore, a press conference will be held in Ottawa with campaigners and organizers combined with some well-known Canadian figures at the middle of the campaign. They will try to draw more attention in Canada as well as to get support from various sectors, including Canadian government's voice and action on the matter. From there, campaigners will also deliver collective wishes of Canadian people and students for his freedom, as well as a vivid message to send the Burmese military that the Canadian people and students are concerned of his deplorable condition in prison.
Information Department
Burmese Students' Democratic Organization (Canada)
Contact to East of Canada: Tin Maung Htoo at (519) 686-4745
Contact to West of Canada: Htay Aung at (604) 715-7714