Protesters seek release of Myanmar political detainees

MANILA, Philippines — Activists from Free Burma Coalition-Philippines marked Burma's Human Rights Day on Friday with a rally in front of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) office in Manila to demand the release of all political prisoners in Burma. Organizers said the protest was part of the global campaign calling for the release of all political prisoners in Burma, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and as a sendoff message to former Senator Orlando S. Mercado, the newly appointed Philippine Permanent Representative to the ASEAN. The group unfurled a “huge tarpaulin" containing faces of thousands of Filipino supporters from various parts of the country demanding the release of all political prisoners in Burma. FBC-Philippines with the Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID) jointly organized a project called “8.888 Faces" photo petition which will be part of the global petition of 888,888 signatures for submission to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. FBC-Philippines as a sign of “pabaon" (send off message) to Mercado handed over a letter to the DFA containing the group's petition to the Philippine government to continuously engage ASEAN to effect democratic reforms in Burma and apply more pressures to Myanmar’s rulers for the release of political prisoners. The group pointed out that the release of all of Burma’s political prisoners is a crucial step in creating an atmosphere conducive to the process of genuine national reconciliation in Burma and ASEAN in this regard has a crucial role to play. “We urge former senator Mercado to put among his priorities the issue of Burma when he assumes office. Mercado's favorite slogan of “Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko" must be translated to his future work inside the ASEAN. We would like to hear special envoy Mercado say that ASEAN must do something about Burma situation," FBC-Phils said. Thailand-based groups like the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners (Burma), Burma Partnership, and Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB) simultaneously launched the Free Burma’s Political Prisoners Now! Campaign with the support of various advocacy groups in the region including the Free Burma Coalition-Philippines. - GMANews.TV