10 August 2004

It is reported that the regime is openly prohibiting the members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) around the country from requesting people sign the petition for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the NLD, the NLD vice-chairperson, U Tin Oo, and all political prisoners.
The Divisional Election Commission and the Divisional Chief of Staff of the police are obstructing the Divisional Organizing Committee members of the NLD. Also, at the township level, the Township Peace and Development Council and the District Peace and Development Council are threatening the township level NLD members. Furthermore, the legal authorities are threatening to punish the NLD members.
Regarding these events, we, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), AAPP, genuinely recognize and firmly support this movement by the NLD members as a fair and lawful way of acknowledging the beliefs and desires of the people for the release of prisoners of conscience. We, the AAPP, strongly oppose and forcefully denounce the regime’s one-sided prohibition and harassment of this just and legal movement.
Tate Naing, the secretary of the AAPP, said, “The regime’s prohibition of even basic human rights movements like this is breaking our people’s hands and shutting our people’s mouths in a brutal way, which is shameful.”
Since the 57th Martyrs’ Day, the NLD members have been collecting signatures throughout the whole country for the release of all political prisoners. Now, the regime has prohibited the signature campaigns in Mandalay, Magwe, Meiktila, Natmauk, Yenangyaung and so on by abusing their power.

Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)