January 2016 Action Item

PRAYER IS ACTION!

After some encouraging moves toward a more open and free society in recent years, the government of Myanmar has a long way to go. A recent example of this was the aggressive disruption of a peaceful student protest in March 2015 by police with batons, who beat and arrested more than 100 students, including one of the young organizers, Phyoe Phyoe Aung. Many were injured, held in solitary confinement, charged with questionable offenses, and denied access to legal counsel. However, Myanmar is also eager for international approval, so we join with Amnesty International in calling for the release of this young woman calling for freedom and democracy in her country. See their sample letter below.

Write to:

Thein Sein, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar
President Office
Office No.18
Nay Pyi Taw
Republic of the Union of Myanmar

Your Excellency,

Phyoe Phyoe Aung was arrested during a largely peaceful student protest in Myanmar. She and scores of other students and their supporters now face lengthy jail terms. Some were held in solitary confinement and have limited access to lawyers. Excellency, I urge you to:

  1. Release Phyoe Phyoe Aung and all the detained peaceful student protesters immediately and unconditionally.

  2. Ensure that, pending their release, they are not tortured or otherwise ill-treated; permitted regular contact with family members and lawyers of their choosing; and provided with any medical treatment which they may require.
Sincerely,

Encourage!

You can also send a brief note of encouragement to Phyoe Phyoe Aung letting her know you “support the students of Myanmanr” or that she and others are not forgotten. Send them to:

Phyoe Phyoe Aung
c/o Myanmar Team Amnesty International
1 Easton Street
London, WC1X 0DW
United Kingdom