As hold-ups continue in the supply of foreign aid to Myanmar, Asian
leaders have been urged to pressure the country's military rulers into
taking swift action to address a growing humanitarian catastrophe.
Leaders of Amnesty International in Asia Pacific, meeting
in Hong Kong, called on their governments to use every means possible
to pressure the Myanmar authorities to focus on disaster relief and
facilitate international assistance to protect the rights to life, food
and health of its citizens.
In the wake of Cyclone Nargis, the government
of Myanmar is deliberately impeding life-saving
assistance.
Despite the devastating consequences of Cyclone Nargis, which killed tens of thousands of people and displaced nearly a million more, Myanmar’s government has announced that it will proceed with its plans for holding a national referendum regarding a new constitution on May 10.
Following the impact of Cyclone Nargis on Myanmar, which killed tens of
thousands of people and displaced around a million more, Amnesty
International is calling urgently on the government to open its borders
to relief workers and ensure aid is provided on the basis of need
without discrimination.
Three people in Myanmar were sentenced to prison for giving water to monks on the street.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is the best-known of more than 1,850 known political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Myanmar.
Political activists continue to be imprisoned in Myanmar, according to
new research by Amnesty International. There have been 96 arrests since
1 November 2007.
Press release: Amnesty International condemns the Myanmar government’s continued imprisonment of political activists, which new research reveals now stands at 96 arrests since 1 November 2007.
Judit Arenas writes from the World Economic Forum in Davos about talking to those that can take steps to improve human rights – not just governments, but also companies.
