New Delhi - Twenty two international media groups have urged the UN body and ASEAN to adopt a harsher stance against the Burmese junta for the immediate release of Burmese journalists, artists and dissidents who are languishing in jails.
The Burma action group, comprising 22 members and partners of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) including SEAPA, released a statement on Friday and sent its joint appeal addressed to United Nation Secretary General H.E Ban Ki Moon, ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan and UN Human Rights Rapporteur for Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana.
"The UN and ASEAN must adopt a harder stance against the Burmese junta, demanding the unconditional release of all political prisoners for starters, and more direct access to Burmese communities suffering under the military dispensation," said Roby Alampay, Executive Director of Bangkok based South East Asian Press Alliance.
The appeal was aimed to draw attention of the international community and the neighbouring countries of Burma and to shame the junta.
"The target of the statement is actually the international community and the neighbours of Burma. The junta has a thick skin, and few have delusions that they can be reasoned with. But the international and regional communities must themselves be shamed into doing more to free the people of Burma," said Roby Alampay.
The group urged the release of arrested Journalist Zaw Thet Htwe and the influential comedian-activist Zarganar. They were arrested in June when they were helping in relief efforts for Cyclone Nargis victims, which lashed Burma on 2 and 3 May 2008.
Along with Zarganar and Zaw Thet Htwe, seven other activists and dissidents were charged with a range of offences.
"All charges against them must also be dropped," the statement said.
Both Zaw Thet Htwe and Zarganar were arrested in June and Zarganar was charged with at least seven legal counts, which were Injuring or Defiling Place of Worship with Intent to Insult Religion", violating the Unlawful Associations Act and allegedly breaching Burma's Video Act and Sections of the Electronics Act.
And Zaw Thet Htwe was accused of "Inducing Crimes Against Public
Tranquility", "Injuring or Defiling Place of Worship with Intent to Insult Religion", and violating the Unlawful Associations Act.
Mizzima News Agency is a member of Burma action group
Soe Myint, Editor-in-chief of Mizzima said that, junta is violating its own law.
"There is no rule of law in Burma and it is the regime which violates its own promulgated laws, orders for protecting themselves," Soe Myint said.
"So whatever Zaw Thet Htwe and Zarganar were charged with are unlawful in the eyes of international laws and Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which a soverign Burma is a part of," he added.
Press freedom in Burma has worsened after the September saffron revolution, and authorities have been tightening its grip on local media in Burma and there are more attacks against the independent media outlets in exile.
