Regional legislators calls for immediate release of peaceful protestors in Burma, condemns violence used by Junta

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) urges the military rulers of Myanmar to immediately release Burmese student leaders and human rights activists who have been arrested in Yangon over the last hree days during peaceful protests against the increase of petrol prices in the country.

The arrests clearly indicate that the human rights situation in Myanmar continues to deteriorate and that the military junta continues to act with disregard to regional hopes for a peaceful democratic transition of the country’s leadership.

ASEAN, having recently agreed in principle to form a regional human rights body, must take it upon themselves to urge Myanmar’s military leaders to respect the rights of its citizens and to immediately cease its acts of violence against those demanding justice and fair treatment.

It is reported that the peaceful protests against the sudden hike of fuel prices in Myanmar began in Yangon on Sunday, August 19. Numerous Burmese citizens have been arrested since and reports have surfaced of the junta’s use of violent means to suppress these expressions of displeasure with the governance of the county.

AIPMC is extremely concerned that the military junta’s handling of these peaceful protests may result in similar bloody scenes of the 1988 pro-democracy uprising in Myanmar that saw the killing of many innocent lives.

For enquiries, please contact Roshan Jason, AIPMC Executive Director, at
+6012-3750974