Ashin Gambira, the Imprisoned Buddhist

Ashin Gambira, the Imprisoned Buddhist

Press Release: Terry Evans

2 December 2008

Ashin Gambira, the imprisoned Buddhist monk who led tens of thousands in an anti-junta uprising during September 2007, has been transferred to a remote prison far from Rangoon.

On Monday Gambira, who was recently sentenced to a 68-year prison term for leading the Saffron Revolution, was transferred from Insein Prison in Rangoon to Hkamti Prison in the distant Sagaing Division in northwestern Burma.

The Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) says that more than 136 of the 215 dissidents convicted so far have been sent to remote prisons. The author of this policy directive is Senior-General Than Shwe, a former psychological warfare officer who now heads Burma's gang of unelected leaders.

Bo Kyi, the joint-secretary of the AAPP, condemned the transfers: “This is just another form of psychological torture by the regime. It will take a lot of time, money and effort for their families to visit and provide essential food and medicine.”

ENDS

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