Myanmar reforms

Gambira, an outspoken Buddhist monk, was apprehended and questioned by Burmese authorities on Friday, less than a month after he was released from jail.

Gambira played a leading role in the 2007 “Saffron Revolution,” an anti-government uprising against the then ruling junta. He was sentenced to 68 years in jail after the uprising and freed on January 13 this year after the new government granted amnesty to 302 prisoners.

Hundreds of monks, students, journalists and lawyers were detained by the authorities after the pro-democracy activists staged an anti-government protest in 1988. In reaction, the West imposed economic sanctions on Myanmar's military rulers. Myanmar’s strained relations with the West have started to thaw after the new military-backed civilian government embarked on a series of reforms. The most drastic was the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest in 2010, followed by the government's decision to allow her to run for a parliamentary seat at the beginning of 2012.

'Repressive laws remain in place'



Marc Farmaner, Director of the Burma Campaign, UK nevertheless believes the European Union needs to be cautious about the nascent Burmese reforms. “The constitution which gives the Burmese military absolute power hasn’t been changed at all. All of its repressive laws remain in place,” Farmaner told Deutsche Welle.

The Burmese authorities claim Gambira reopened monasteries that the government had shut down after the 2007 uprising.

“Gambira and other monks who were released last month were using the monasteries from which they were evicted. They were being followed by military and its intelligence,” said Farmaner, adding that they had been facing "harassment since their release."

Burmese activist Ohmar Khin, who has been living in exile in Thailand since the 1988 pro-democracy demonstration, does not think the released prisoners of conscience are actually free. “At least 20 of my friends, who were released by the government, still have ropes tied around their necks,” she told Deutsche Welle. Khin pointed out that the ruling party has the power to suspend or remit a sentence at anytime under Article 401 of the Burmese constitution. “These draconian laws have not been repealed,” said Khin.

A long way to go



It is still not clear how long Gambira will be kept under detention. Farmaner thinks the detention will not last long as the government does not want to receive international criticism for his arrest. He said it used the detention merely as a warning to other political activists that they must not go too far or they will be rearrested.

“Some of the released prisoners are being cautious and quiet and not critical of the government. But Gambira continues to criticize the government,” said Farmaner. “You can see there are limits to this political space,” he added.

Author: Miriam Wong
Editor: Shamil Shams