Editorial – President Thein Sein is currently in London to talk trade and investment in Myanmar, the UK being one of the stops on his whirlwind European tour. One notable point on his tour was the announcement he made in a BBC interview that his government would release all remaining political prisoners by the end of the year. But the question we should ask is – why should these people have to wait?
Silence is the condition of those still incarcerated for stepping out of line. Activists locked up can only talk to the walls, their fellow inmates and their jailers. They have no voice in modern-day “democratic” Myanmar. Even opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains largely silent on this issue, despite the fact that she herself suffered a less-harrowing form of imprisonment, house arrest, for her political actions and views.
We really should question President Thein Sein’s continuing game-plan, playing with the lives of people accused of political crimes. On his visit to London, he will have been asked about his government’s efforts to improve human rights in his country, particularly over the concerns about communal violence, as well as these people locked up and those who continue to be locked up.
As far as can be ascertained, there are still a number of people in jail in our country for the “crime” of disagreeing with the government. Hundreds have been arrested under a new law brought in under the president. The continuing arrests of people on political charges is a warning sign that President Thein Sein, despite what he tells the BBC, wants to keep a lid on political dissent and is less than keen on bringing real democracy to Myanmar. Only last week, Wai Phyo, secretary of the NGO, Generation Wave, was arrested reportedly for a “Free Political Prisoners” poster campaign, which he organized back in July 2011. Two other members were jailed for three months and fined last year, but Wai Phyo managed to evade the dragnet.
Talking to media last week, Wai Phyo expressed surprise at his arrest and said the government should be concerned with their image, “destroying the impression of a democratic transition,” and reflecting badly on the president.
Many people welcome the political and economic reform process underway in Myanmar. Some will argue that life has improved and the changes are for the good. But the continued intimidation and threats to those who step out of line, and the continued jailing of those who should have the right to speak their mind and raise concerns, should not be tolerated.
What is clear is that severe limitations on freedoms of association, assembly, and expression remain, especially for those who were previously imprisoned for political activism. If President Thein Sein is serious about moving the country toward just and democratic governance, he should be prevailed upon to ensure the fundamental freedoms of all of its citizens.
The conditions placed on freed political prisoners by Article 401 should be ditched. They should have a real amnesty. Plus the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Act, the Electronic Transaction Law, the Unlawful Associations Act, and other repressive legislation should be removed.
Only by doing this can President Thein Sein go some way towards claiming his democratic transition is really helping his countrymen and women to have a better life.
