Dear Supporter,
'Please use your liberty to promote ours' Aung San Suu Kyi
There are now more than 2,200 political prisoners in Burma, more than at any other time since the mass pro-democracy uprising in 1988. Among the people imprisoned are those arrested for one small act of defiance and for protesting peacefully.
As the first elections in Burma in 20 years approach will you act today to stand in solidarity with Burma’s political prisoners and in defiance of Burma's oppressive military regime? In Burma the open palm is a gesture of fearlessness, so we're asking you to write the name of a Burmese political prisoner on your hand, take a photo and upload it to our site. By adding your photo to our collection, you won't just be offering much needed solidarity to Burma's political prisoners. You will also be joining the brave individuals (featured in the video below) who, having been imprisoned in the past for peaceful political action, are risking their freedom to take part in this action.
These activists are using this small act of defiance to show that they cannot truly be free while 2,200 fellow activists continue to be punished for their peaceful protests.
All the photos will be taken to Brussels for October's Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM ) of leaders from Asia and Europe. We'll use this opportunity to ask these leaders to demand both freedom for Burma's political prisoners, and real human rights improvements across the country.
This photo action has been inspired by the work of James Mackay, a London-based documentary photographer who has photographed more than 160 former Burmese political prisoners – some in exile and some still in Burma.
I do hope you’ll join in by uploading your photo today and asking your friends to do the same.
Thank you.
Verity Coyle
Burma Campaign Coordinator |
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