A global campaign for the release of Burma’s political prisoners

လလ600,000+Citizens+Urge+Ban+Ki Moon+ PR

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Free Burma's Political Prisoners Now! Press Release & Key Messages attached
To: shwenanda

Dear Friends,

Please find attached the press release about the signature count,
which went out this morning.

Please also find attached key messages to help with any media work you do.

Congratulations to all of you, your contribution to the campaign has
been fantastic!

Rachel

Accept nothing less than the release of Burma's political prisoners:

Over 600,000 global citizens urge Ban Ki-moon
A global campaign for the release of Burma’s political prisoners has
secured over 600,000 petition signatures in just ten weeks, according
to campaign organisers. Signatures have come from over 150 countries.
"This is the largest global coordinated action for Burma the world has
ever witnessed," said Dr Naing Aung, Secretary-General of the Forum
for Democracy in Burma.

The petition calls on the 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 democratization in the
country. It comes at a time when Ban Ki-moon is negotiating a visit to
the country with the ruling military government, and has said he is
"deeply concerned" about Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention. The
closed-door trial of the Nobel Peace Prize winner and leader of the
National League for Democracy is today entering its seventh day.
International condemnation of the trial has been widespread, including
unprecedented criticism from the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN). Since October last year, more than 350 of Burma’s
2,100 political prisoners have been sentenced in similar trials, to
harsh sentences of up to 104 years.

Co-founder and Joint-Secretary of the Assistance Association for
Political Prisoners (Burma) Bo Kyi said, “The eyes of the world are on
Ban Ki-moon now. He must do whatever it takes, and accept nothing less
than the immediate and unconditional release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
and all political prisoners. Without their release, there can be no
national reconciliation in Burma."

The campaign has been led by the Assistance Association for Political
Prisoners (Burma) and Forum for Democracy in Burma, representing
former political prisoners and pro-democracy activists. A broad-based
consortium of Burma exile and solidarity groups around the world has
worked to secure the signatures, including Avaaz, a massive online
community of activists.

Avaaz Executive Director Ricken Patel said, "Aung San Suu Kyi is
Burma's Nelson Mandela. The UN Secretary-General must insist that her
release be the condition for any further international engagement with
the Burmese junta."

Since the campaign launched on 13 March, Burma's Human Rights Day, one
person has signed the petition every 10 seconds.

-ENDS-

For media interviews, please contact:

Bo Kyi, Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) +66(0)813248935

Naing Aung, Forum For Democracy in Burma +66(0)818837230

Khin Ohmar, Forum For Democracy in Burma +66(0)818840772

Ricken Patel, Avaaz + 34 608934971 or media@avaaz.org

--
Rachel Fleming
Campaign Co-ordinator
Free Burma's Political Prisoners Now!
www.fbppn.net
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)