By Nava Thakuria

The Burmese military rulers, who are trying to earn credibility from international communities after declaring the general election some time in October this year, has received a brickbat from the Amnesty International.

The London based influential rights body has warned the military junta of Burma (Myanmar) ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”halt its repression of ethnic minority activists before forthcoming national and local electionsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.

The Amnesty International, in a major report released on February 16, stated that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”the repression of ethnic minority activists in Myanmar, draws on accounts from more than 700 activists from the seven largest ethnic minorities, including the Rakhine, Shan, Kachin and Chin, covering a two-year period from August 2007ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.

ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The authorities have arrested, imprisoned and in some cases torturedor even killed ethnic minority activists. Minority groups have also faced extensive surveillance, harassment and discrimination when trying to carry out their legitimate activities,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ added in the 58 page report.

Speaking to this writer from Bangkok, Benjamin Zawacki, the Burma issue expert of Amnesty International, said, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Ethnic minorities play an important but seldom acknowledged role in BurmaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s political opposition. The military regime has responded to this activism in a heavy-handed manner, raising fears that repression will intensify before the elections.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Activism in Burma is not confined to the central regions and urban centres. Any resolution of the countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s deeply troubling human rights record has to take into account the rights and aspirations of the countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s large population of ethnic minorities,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ added Benjamin Zawacki.

Mentionable that the State Peace and Development Council ruled country is going to hold its general elections this year after 1990. In the last polls, the opposition force led by National League for Democracy had won most of the seats, but they were not handed over the power.

Rather the military dictators started oppressing activities towards the elected opposition leaders as well as their sympathisers.

Even the NLD chief Aung San Suu Kyi was put under detention and the Nobel laureate lady is still under house arrest. Various opposition political party leaders had urged the Nay Pie Taw to release the great lady before the proposed elections.

Mentionable that there are nearly 2,100 political prisoners, including many from ethnic minorities in Burma and the government has not committed for their release before the polls, such that they can participate in the exercise.

Amnesty International has also urged the government to lift restrictions on freedom of association, assembly and religion in the run-up to the elections; to release immediately and unconditionally all prisoners of conscience; and to remove restrictions on independent media to cover the campaigning and election process.

ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The government of Myanmar should use the elections as an opportunity to improve its human rights record, not as a spur to increase repression of dissenting voices, especially those from the ethnic minorities,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ asserted Benjamin Zawacki.

Finally, the rights body had called on the neighbouring countries of Burma including the members of Association of South East Asian Nations, to push the government to ensure that the people in the Southeast Asian country would be able to freely express their opinions, gather peacefully and participate openly in the political process.