Ma Than Htay & Ma Tin Tin Oo

Ma Than Htay and Ma Tin Tin Oo had been arrested in January 2003 for their peaceful protests against the government, they were each given a 15-year prison sentence. They were freed in July 2005.

On 16 January 2003, the two Buddhist nuns, both in their early 20s, demonstrated near Yangon City Hall. Holding up red flags with flying peacocks on them -- a traditional symbol of political opposition and student resistance in Myanmar -- they shouted slogans calling for authorities to lower the price of basic commodities like rice and cooking oil, and handed out leaflets calling for the release of political prisoners and for progress in the political dialogue between the military government and the National League for Democracy, the political party that won election in 1990 and to whom the authorities failed to transfer power.

The authorities stated that the nuns were arrested for distributing "pamphlets to agitate the people to stage demonstrations" and for shouting slogans. Ma Than Htay and Ma Tin Tin Oo were sentenced under vaguely worded laws that are frequently used to silence dissent in the country and which effectively criminalize peaceful political activity. Political prisoners in Myanmar habitually do not receive fair trials, including by having limited or no access to legal counsel. AI considered them to be prisoners of conscience.

Both cases were supported by Sting, U2, Duran Duran & others.

Special thanks to the fans of all these artists for helping to win Ma Than Htay and Ma Tin Tin Oo's release!

Read more »