Naw Ohn Hla’s Jailing Highlights Ongoing Suppression of Political Dissent, Human Rights Organisation Claims

In spite of recent reforms and the release of political prisoners, the numbers still in jail in Burma are significant, a human rights advocacy organisation based in the United Kingdom has said.

Burma Campaign UK, said it had launched a campaign to highlight the issue of political imprisonment in Burma, referring to the case of Naw Ohn Hla, who was arrested on the 30th December 2014, while protesting outside the Chinese Embassy in Rangoon.

Naw Ohn Hla, a member of the Democracy and Peace Women Network, and fellow supporters, had been calling for an investigation into the death of a protester in 2014 during marches against a joint Chinese and Burmese Army run development project in Letpadaung.

“Naw Ohn Hla was jailed for over six years simply because of her peaceful political activities. She is also facing further charges for peaceful protesting and she could receive even more time in jail,” said Wai Hnin, Campaigns Officer at Burma Campaign UK.

“The government uses repressive laws to intimidate and jail political activists like Naw Ohn Hla. Naw Ohn Hla and the remaining political prisoners should be released immediately and unconditionally,” Wai Hnin added.

Naw Ohn Hla is currently serving a prison sentence of six years and two months in Insein Prison in Rangoon for protesting.

Burma Campaign UK stated that the joint Chinese, Burmese Army project had led to land confiscations and environmental degradation.