BROUK Welcomes Rohingya MP Kyaw Min and other High Profile Political Prisoners Release

BURMESE ROHINGYA ORGANISATION UK (BROUK)
10 Station Road, Walthamstow, London E17 8AA
Tel: +44 2082 571 143, E-mail: brorg_uk@yahoo.co.uk, web : www.bro-uk.org

Date: 13/01/2012

BROUK Welcomes Rohingya MP Kyaw Min and other High Profile Political Prisoners Release

Today, BROUK welcomed the release of high profile political prisoners, including
Rohingya MP U Kyaw Min, and member of the Committee Representing the People’s
Parliament (CRPP) and family members, Shan ethnic leader U Khun Htun Oo and
members of the 88 Generation Students and journalists from the Democratic Voice of
Burma. The release of high profile politicians and activists is great news for their families
and friends.

These releases take place after UK Foreign Secretary William Hague delivered a strong
message that sanctions will not be lifted without real progress in key areas, including the
release of all political prisoners. Late last year US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
delivered a similar message.

BROUK would like to remind the international community that sanctions should not be
lifted in return for only releasing high profile political prisoners. There could still be
around 600 political prisoners in jail. The next step should be for the Burmese
government to allow international independent monitors to publicly account for all
remaining political prisoners.

It is encouraging that the new civilianized government of U Thein Sein is showing signs
of change in Burma but all remaining political prisoners should be freed immediately and
unconditionally. If U Thein Sein’s government wants real reform, they have to release all
remaining political prisoners, stop attacking and oppressing ethnic civilians, and must lift
restrictions on their own citizens, the Rohingyas. The government must restore Rohingya
citizenship rights and ethnic rights.”

A top priority for the international community must now be to continue to push for the
release of all political prisoners, and for international monitors to verify the process.

Maung Tun Khin

President,
Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK.

Contact + 447888714866