Dictatorships and Confusion VIII

According to the Burma Campaign UK, 300,000 people so far have signed a petition calling on Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, to secure the release of all Burma's political prisoners. But the UN, like the Association of South-East Asian Nations, appears powerless to stop the horror. So, too, despite their angry protests over Suu Kyi's ordeal, do Britain, the EU and the US – although activists say western countries, and neighbouring China and India, could do much more if they really wanted to.

For many, it is already too late. Thet Win Aung, a member of the Basic Education Students Union, was jailed for 60 years, the AAPP said.

"He was very badly tortured under interrogation. He was first held in Kale prison, in Sagaing, where he took part in a hunger strike calling for political prisoners' rights. He was then transferred to Khamti prison, where he contracted cerebral malaria.

He was denied medical treatment for a long time. Eventually he was transferred to Mandalay prison for treatment but it was too late. He died there in October, 2006."

Burma's Prisons and Labour Camps - Silent Killing Report]





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And again, on other news:

Pinkdot is a HIT!

More than 2500 people showed up at Hong Lim Park on 16th May 2009 and made history by participating in the first-ever official public gathering for the LGBT cause in Singapore.