Rights activists say they continue to be refused permission to travel
abroad despite the Burmese government claiming to being undergoing political
reform.
While some prominent opposition
figures such as democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi have been granted documents for
travel abroad, many former political prisoners claim that their right to visit
foreign countries remains restricted.
Twenty prominent members of the
88 Generation Students group in Rangoon have not been issued passports despite
submitting applications six months ago. People usually only wait one month to
be issued with the document.
“We want to know what their clear
policy is—who they can give passports to and who they cannot give them to. We
have found that they do not have one policy for everyone,” said Soe Tun, of the
88 Generation.
During the previous military
junta in Burma, a blacklist of people who opposed the regime was drawn up and
movement restricted. But the 88 Generation Students said that President Thein
Sein’s new government must move away from such tyrannical practices if it is
serious about reform.
Min Ko Naing, a well-known rights
activist and 88 Generation leader, plans to visit to the United States to
collect an award from the National Endorsement for Democracy—his first trip
outside Burma after 18 years as a political prisoner. But his travel plans
cannot yet be confirmed as his passport application is still pending.
Aung Thein, a prominent lawyer
and former political prisoner, said that his passport was seized by Burmese
Immigration at Rangoon Airport on July 27 on his return from Thailand. The
National League for Democracy member had to cancel a follow-up medical
appointment in Thailand on Aug. 17 as his passport was still being held by the
authorities.
“They did not give me any reason
why they seized my passport,” he said. “But I noticed that when they finally
returned it that they stamped ‘observation’ in the book which means they can
take it back at any time.
“It is nonsense to do this. I
told them when they seized my passport that it is not fair to take it because I
am a sick person and need to have further medical checkups,” he added.
Aung Thein said that the incident
might be related to his talk at a workshop in Thailand and another seminar he
attended in Hong Kong which discussed human rights.
“We have to think a lot when the
government says it is changing,” he said. “It should not change only at the
top, there must also be change from the middle and the bottom as well.”
He said that there was an obvious
contradiction in his treatment as the government is currently inviting Burmese
people living in exile to return to the country. “I do not feel like I did
something wrong by attending this workshop and seminar,” he said.
Meanwhile, ethnic Mon politician
Min Soe Lin told The Irrawaddy that the government refuses to issue his new
passport. The immigration authorities are awaiting orders from Naypyidaw before
handing over the document, he said.
“They should let me know what the
problem they have with me is,” said Min Soe Lin. “I have the right to keep my
passport as even Khun Htun Oo and Zarganar got it.”
Khun Htun Oo and Zarganar are
high profile former political prisoners in Burma. Ethnic Shan leader Khun Htun
Oo has traveled to Thailand twice for medical checkups while Zarganar, a famous
dissident comedian, has made various trips to the United States and Europe.
Since Burma began a process of
political reform last year, the government has made it much easier for
foreigners to visit. However, there are no clear regulations for Burmese
nationals to be allowed to travel abroad, claim rights activists.
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