- Update info:
- 19 Apr 2016 (Suspended)
- Latest info:
- 5 Nov 2015
- Country:
- UNION OF MYANMAR
- Subject:
- Kyaw Ko Ko
Gender m/f: m
- Period:
- 19 May 2016
- Distribution date:
- 5 Nov 2015
- UA No:
- 247/2015
After almost eight months in hiding, prominent student unionist Kyaw Ko Ko has been detained for his role in organizing student protests in Myanmar. He is a prisoner of conscience who must be immediately and unconditionally released.
Kyaw Ko Ko (age 34) prominent student unionist and Chairman of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) was arrested by plain clothes police officers on 29 October in Thingangyun Township, in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city while he was in hiding. He was held overnight at the Myanmar’s Special Branch interrogation centre known as Aung Tha Pyay. His arrest relates to a peaceful protest he organized on 10 March in Yangon against the violent dispersal of a student march earlier that day in Letpadan, Bago region. After the protest on 10 March the police issued an arrest warrant against him for his role in organising the protest and he went into hiding.
On 30 October he was brought before the Kamayut Township Court in Yangon and was later transferred to Insein prison where he is currently held. He has been charged with taking part in an unlawful assembly (Article 143 of the Penal Code), joining or continuing an unlawful assembly knowing it has been dispersed (Article 145 of the Penal Code), “rioting” (Article 147 of the Penal Code), and inciting the public to commit offences against the State or the public tranquillity (Article 505(b) of the Penal Code). He faces up to six years and six months imprisonment. Kyaw Ko Ko might be facing additional charges but they have not been confirmed yet. His next court hearing will be on 5 November. As of 30 October, he had not been allowed to meet with a lawyer or his family.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Kyaw Ko Ko’s friend who was supposed to meet him on 29 October at the time of his arrest was also shortly detained on 30 October by Myanmar Special Branch for questioning and released in the evening.
Kyaw Ko Ko and other members of the ABFSU have been leading student protests since the end of 2014, after the National Education Law was adopted on 30 September 2014. They claim the law curtails academic freedom and are calling for it to be amended. A nationwide student march was blocked in Letpadan, Bago Region and violently dispersed on 10 March by Myanmar police. More than 100 students were arrested that day. Since then, some have been released on bail but more than fifty remain in detention in Tharawaddy prison, Bago region.
Kyaw Ko Ko is now facing trial in the same case as prisoner of conscience Nandar Sitt Aung – another student leader from the ABFSU. See UA: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa16/2484/2015/en/
Kyaw Ko Ko was previously arrested in 2008 for his involvement in the Saffron Revolution. He was released thanks to a presidential prisoner amnesty in January 2012.
The Myanmar authorities continue to arrest and imprison activists and human rights defenders simply for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression which is enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Amnesty International is concerned about a number of laws in Myanmar which restrict the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
In October, Amnesty International has published a briefing highlighting how Myanmar’s authorities have intensified repression over the past two years and in particular by clamping down on freedom of expression in the lead up to general elections scheduled for 8 November. See: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa16/2457/2015/my/
Amnesty International continues to receive reports about poor prison conditions in Myanmar, which do not comply with those set out in the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. These concerns include a lack of access to adequate medical treatment, clean drinking water, nutritious food and water for bathing.
UA: 247/15 Index: ASA 16/2784/2015 Issue Date: 30 October 2015
- Update info:
- 19 Apr 2016 (Suspended)
- Latest info:
- 5 Nov 2015
- Country:
- UNION OF MYANMAR
- Subject:
- Kyaw Ko Ko
Gender m/f: m
- Period:
- 19 May 2016
- Distribution date:
- 19 Apr 2016
- UA No:
- 247/2015
Prominent student unionist Kyaw Ko Ko was released from prison on 8 April after courts in Myanmar dropped charges against scores of student protesters.
On 8 April, Kyaw Ko Ko, a prominent student unionist and Chairman of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU), was released from prison after all charges against him were dropped. His release came a day after the new government announced that it would work to release all prisoners of conscience as soon as possible.
Kyaw Ko Ko was arrested by plain clothes police officers on 29 October 2015 in Thingangyun Township, in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city. He was arrested in connection with a peaceful protest he organized on 10 March 2015 in Yangon against the violent dispersal of a student march earlier that day in Letpadan, Bago Region. After the protest on 10 March the police issued an arrest warrant against him for his role in organising the protest and he went into hiding. He was subsequently charged with a range of criminal offences, and was facing over six years’ imprisonment for his peaceful activities.
Kyaw Ko Ko should have never been imprisoned in the first place. Amnesty International is continuing to campaign for the release of all prisoners of conscience in Myanmar.
Thank you to all those who sent appeals. No further action is requested from the UA network.
Further information on UA: 247/15 Index: ASA 16/3834/2016 Issue Date: 14 April 2016