Politics

149: A mark of honour for Hkun Htun Oo on his 68th birthday by the Shan community in Chiang Mai

Press Release (To read in Burmese and Shan)

September 11 2011

We the Shan community extend our warmest wishes to Hkun Htun Oo on the occasion of his 68th birthday which falls today on September 11. Sadly, he marks another birthday in prison. Currently, he is detained in the remote northern Putao prison.

The Shan community in Chiang Mai is organizing an event to mark his birthday to honour him. There will be a religious ceremony offering food to monks early in the morning and a birthday ceremony for him in the afternoon from 1:30 to 4 pm. It is an open event and supporters and well wishers are invited to join the Shan community at Wat Ku Tao temple. This event will include a candlelight vigil for him and for the release of all political prisoners in Burma.

In February 2005, 30 political leaders from Shan State who were peacefully advocating for political reform were arrested by the Burmese military regime. Nine were tried and given absurdly long prison sentences, including Hkun Htun Oo, leader of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), which won the majority of seats in Shan State in the 1990 election. He was sentenced to 93 years in prison. Others received sentences of between 75 and 106 years.

On this occasion we wish to highlight Hkun Htun Oo’s brave words “We haven't committed any crime. We reaffirm our aim to empower our people to bring peace, justice and equality to people.”

“We see detaining political prisoners as disrespect to democracy and justice. For a real peace process to be able to proceed in Burma, all political prisoners must be released” said Ying Harn Fah from the organizing team of this event.

"We are also concerned for Hkun Htun Oo's health. He has been suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes, and prostate problems and has not been permitted to get medical check ups outside the prison"

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners-Burma (AAPPB) there are almost 2,000 political prisoners but the military regime has ignored all international demands for the unconditional and immediate release of prisoners including Hkun Htun Oo.

We call on Burma’s regime to free him, along with his fellow political prisoners, immediately and without condition and to immediately stop the civil war and begin a genuine peace process.

Contact:

Ying Harn Fah 089 - 2627848

Toom Mawk Harn 089 - 4315406

Email: hkunhtunoo@gmail.com free_hkunhtunoo@yahoo.com

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