Should you travel to Myanmar?

Migrant workers from Myanmar return home after being expelled from Thailand -- far from those sunny beaches

     Well, in case you wondered, we have now found Alison Mager's button -- the sunny beaches of Myanmar.  Alison reacted to a recent article in the New York Times by saying that "the article strains my commitment to non-violence." And in the best of Amnesty style and passion, a lively discussion has ensued on the Myanmar listserv.
     The article listed 45 places to go in 2012, and in the number three spot was Myanmar, a destination with "renowned cultural treasures, world-class boutique hotels and deserted beaches."   The listserv discussion has focused on the pros and cons of travel to the area:  the extent to which tourism enriches the government or may benefit the people with exposure and cash.
     Until late 2010, the National League for Democracy (NLD) had called for a travel boycott to Myanmar.  However, U Win Tin, leader of the NLD announced a revision of the policy by saying "We want people to come to Burma, not to help the junta, but to help the people by understanding the situation: political, economic, moral – everything." But he added: "To have a very big cruise ship with hundreds of tourists coming in – that's a lot of money for the regime, and so we don't like such big business."
     Where does Amnesty stand on travel to Myanmar?  Andrea Wolper pointed out that "Amnesty does not endorse or call for boycotts so in that sense there's no Amnesty perspective."  Country Specialist Jim Roberts agreed, adding:   "We all know that tourism income benefits the government, but that is outside our area of direct concern.  However, we can use the issue of travel to Myanmar, as the NYC Myanmar Action Team has done, to encourage travelers and travel companies to inform themselves about human rights conditions."
     Speaking of the NYC Myanmar Action Team -- check out the wonderful website they developed called Human Rights and Travel.  Jim has suggested that we respond to the NY Times article by referring readers to this website.
     I feel this little post must end with Alison, however -- in her words:  "Land of 'boutique hotels'   OH PLEASSSSSE."

Zarganar Coming to the U.S.

     Many AIUSA groups know about the Burmese prisoner, Zarganar.  Several local groups across the country adopted him and worked tirelessly for his freedom. On October 12th he was released, along with around 200 others, from his latest stint in prison.
     The 50-year-old comedian had been serving a 35-year sentence spurred by his criticism of Myanmar's decision to block foreign aid in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis.  
     We are excited to learn that Zarganar is on his way to the U.S.  He will arrive at the end of January to spend three months working with the Clinton Foundation.  Our country specialists will be working to learn more details about his visit -- where he'll be, and definitely, how Amnesty members might be able to meet him.  
     Stay tuned...and wishing you all a Happy New Year!

Will the Recent "Reforms" in Myanmar Affect the Outlook for Human Rights?

Jim Roberts, AIUSA Myanmar Country Specialist

In November of 2010 Myanmar held its first national elections since 1989 and a few days later released National League for Democracy General Secretary Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest.  The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) made up of eighteen generals and admirals that had ruled the country since 1988 was dissolved and its Chairman Senior General Than Shwe officially retired.  The new parliament was inaugurated in March of this year and it elected a former army general Thein Sein president. The country’s name was changed from the Union of Myanmar to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the national flag was replaced with a new one.  More interesting developments followed.  

The UN Rapporteur for Human Rights in Myanmar, Tomas Ojea Quintana, was allowed to visit and interview some political prisoners and meet with opposition figures in August.  President Thein Sein met with Aung San Suu Kyi, something that would have been unimaginable under the SPDC.  Daily propaganda slogans against “internal and external destructive elements’ including the BBC and Voice of America began to disappear from the government-controlled news media. The new U.S. Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Burma (the U.S. still officially calls the country by its old name) Derrick Mitchell has travelled to Naypyitaw to meet with officials and opposition leaders three times in the last few months.  Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Michael Posner jointed Mitchell on the last trip in early November.  The government has announced an “end to censorship” including the unblocking of sensitive websites that were previously prohibited. A process leading to the legalization of Aung San Suu Kyi’s banned political party, the National League for Democracy, seems to be underway. A National Human Rights Commission has been set up.

Understandably these developments have provoked new feelings of optimism in many quarters. But, as one commentator recently wrote most of that optimism seems to be coming from outside Myanmar. 

Some of those optimists expected that in line with its “reform” program Myanmar would free all its political prisoners when it announced an amnesty in October. But only a little over 200 of the approximate 2,100 political prisoners were released.

Political prisoners continue to suffer under appalling prison conditions including beatings, overcrowding and extremely substandard medical care.

At the same time there has been no let up in the military’s operations against the Kachin, Karen and other ethnic armed groups which have always been accompanied by gross human rights violations against civilians in the contested areas.

When 15 political prisoners in Insein Prison near Yangon commenced a hunger strike on October 26 to protest denial of the same reductions in sentences that were granted to criminal prisoners, the reaction of the government was to torture them by denying them drinking water and placing eight of them in small filthy cells designed to hold dogs.

One might argue that the government of Myanmar cannot completely reform itself overnight if indeed that is its plan. But how long does it take to stop arresting political prisoners?  How long does it take to stop torturing people?  How long does it take to transfer the monk U Gambira to a hospital where he can be treated for complications of torture injuries sustained in April 2009? How long does it take to turn a key in a cell door?  And how long does it take the army to stop the killings and rape of civilians in its counterinsurgency operations?

Maybe when a few of those things start happening the real optimism can begin.

Prisoners in Myanmar Denied Drinking Water

     Amnesty International has issued its second Urgent Action this week for gross human rights abuses in Myanmar (find the first on the 11.01.11 posting of this blog). 
     Fifteen political prisoners, currently on hunger strike in Insein prison in Myanmar, are reportedly being tortured or otherwise ill-treated.  According to sources in Myanmar, they have been denied drinking water, and eight of the prisoners have been held in cells designed to hold dogs.   The dog cells measure about 3m in length, and just over 2m wide.  They are windowless and often have poor ventilation.  There is generally no proper sanitation, no bed and no mats on the floor.  
     By the morning of 1 November it was reported that two of the hunger strikers had been sent to hospital.  The hunger strikers have also been denied visits from their families and receipt of parcels from relatives, which may include medicine, food, or letters.
     The political prisoners, all men, started a hunger strike at Insein prison on 26 October.  The strike is in protest that political prisoners in Myanmar are commonly denied the reductions in their sentences which are allowed to criminal convicts.  
     Please take part in this Urgent Action as soon as possible.

Imprisoned Buddhist Monk Requires Urgent Medical Attention

     Remember all the joyous emails and postings just a few weeks ago as we learned that Myanmar seemed to begin a process of releasing political prisoners? The word evidently has not reached Kale prison, in northern Myanmar.  U Gambira has been held there in solitary confinement since May 2009.  Reports from former prisoners who were able to visit him report that he has difficulty speaking, and bears visible scars and marks on his hands, arms and body.  He suffers from frequent headaches that cause him to cry out in pain.  

     Amnesty International calls for U Gambira to be admitted to hospital immediately for a full and independent medical examination, and for him to be given all necessary treatment.  Please take part in this Urgent Action as soon as possible.

     U Gambira is believed to have been tortured in April 2009 when he was held in Hkamti prison.  It is believed that he was tortured after requesting permission to exercise.  Prison guards shackled him and handcuffed him to a chair, stuffed a cloth in his mouth, and placed a black cloth bag over his head.  They proceeded to beat him on the head with a stick.  U Gambira is reported to have been left handcuffed to the chair for extended periods during which time he was spoon-fed by the guards.

     U Gambira is serving a 68-year sentence following his arrest in November 2007.  He was sentenced under several different, and vague, laws for his roles in anti-government demonstrations in August and September of 2007.