Amnesty International PROTECT THE HUMAN

Amnesty International BURMA CAMPAIGN Youth Group Action : Sept 2010

BURMA Population: 50 million Capital: Nay Pyi Taw Largest City: Rangoon (Yangon) Area: 676,552 km2 Major languages: Burmese, indigenous ethnic languages Major religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam Life expectancy: 59 years (men), 63 years (women) Economy: Burma is one of the poorest countries in Asia From the BBC, Burma country profile

UPDATE: BURMA Khun Bedu, Khun Kawrio and Khun Dee De are three young Burmese activists who are part of the Karenni, also known as the Kayan, ethnic group. We will be focusing on their case throughout the course of the Burma campaign in 2010 and there are a number of actions to get started with.

TAKE ACTION: CALL FOR THE RELEASE OF KHUN BEDU, KHUN DEE AND KHUN KAWRIO Khun BeduKhun Dee DeKhun Kawrio Khun Bedu, Khun Kawrio and Khun Dee De all live in Loikaw, capital of Kayah state in the east of Burma. They are leading members of an activist group called Kayan New Generation Youth (KNGY). In May 2008, in the days leading up to the country’s constitutional referendum, the group were engaged in peaceful activism, campaigning for a "No" vote on the referendum.

TAKE ACTION: CALL FOR THE RELEASE OF KHUN BEDU, KHUN DEE AND KHUN KAWRIO The group spray-painted their messages of political protest on walls and signposts, attached them to balloons and wrote them on paper boats. Spraypainting graffiti is considered anti social here in the UK. There are very few ways for people in Burma to take action, the sentence they received was extremely harsh, their actions were peaceful. The authorities responded to these peaceful acts of defiance by tightening security, imposing an 8pm curfew using the fire brigade, and installing military intelligence officers and members of the government- backed social group Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) as an added security presence throughout Loikaw.

TAKE ACTION: CALL FOR THE RELEASE OF KHUN BEDU, KHUN DEE AND KHUN KAWRIO On the evening of 10 May 2008, the very night the vote on the constitutional referendum was taking place, Khun Bedu, Khun Kawrio and Khun Dee De were arrested for their campaigning activities. The authorities confiscated computers, cameras and documents relating to the KNGY. After their arrest, the three activists were interrogated for 15 days and subjected to torture and periods in solitary confinement. No trial took place, but a military court sentenced Khun Bedu and Khun Kawrio to 37 years in prison, Khun Dee De was ordered to serve 35 years.

Portrait of U Win Tin Copyright © James Mackay / Please upload any photos you gather to AIUK : Youth action

TAKE ACTION: For this action - all you need is a marker pen and a camera. There are many political prisoners in Burma today; at Amnesty we are focusing our campaign on members of the 88 Generation Students group and three Karenni youth activists. Their names are Htay Kywe, Mie Mie, Zaw Htet Ko Ko, Khun Kawrio, Khun Dee De, Khun Bedu. You could write their names on your hand, like the image above to show your support for the campaign. You’ll be standing in solidarity with activists in Burma and helping us take forward our campaign.