When we started the petition we did not have much idea about what would be involved with a petition since we did not have any experience on how to do it, but our motivation was strong and we wanted to do something to make some difference to the horrible situation regarding prisoners in Burma.

However, surprisingly and gratefully, to date (28th June’06) we have over 320 signatures online and over 200 handwritten ones. We were a little disheartened when we found that the petition to save polar bears had over 55,000 signatures and the Italian petition to reduce mobile phone charges collected 350,000 signatures. However, when we looked at human nature philosophically it made us realize we all have different priorities in life, and who are we to judge others?

It had been a learning experience for us, especially on human nature. There had been some people whom we thought we could rely on to sign, but for various reasons, they have not, and people whom we did not expect to sign have been extremely enthusiastic to our cause. How unpredictable we humans are!

We contacted several politicians - US Senators and UK MPs - but only a few have signed, one of them being Glenys Kinnock, the wife of Britain’s ex Labour Party opposition leader (1983-92), and an elected UK Member of the European Parliament, who is a very compassionate and charming lady. We also contacted many Shan leaders, and much to our disappointment, some have not yet signed for reasons we do not know.

We joined some Yahoo groups with mixed results. The Maoist group was civil but unhelpful, since we did not fit in with their political agenda, they did not want to know; however, the Anarchist Black Cross was more than helpful and friendly as well as being anarchic!

We contacted old friends and relations whom we lost contact with and who were surprised to hear from us, and we made wonderful new friends during the process.

There is quite a mixed bunch of people signing, of different nationalities, Australia, USA, Germany, Holland, India, UK, Malaysia, China, Laos, Thailand, Denmark, Japan, Canada being amongst them. The majority of people who signed are from Thailand and USA.

And of course there are many Shan people signing; there are also many Burmese, Karen, Arakanese, Chin, and other ethnic groups of Burma.

We would very much like to thank our friends and relations who kindly collected signatures for us.

This petition has made us realise that there are many friends around the world who care deeply for the plight of the political prisoners and the people of Burma, and are willing to take the short amount of time it takes to sign up. 

Have you signed? If not, then please take the opportunity to make a difference and add your name to the growing list of supporters. And please ask your friends and family to sign as well.

Thank you.

Comments from Signatories:-

Reconciliation is only possible, if the power-that-be is ready to make a positive move of freeing all political prisoners as a first step. The rest - political give and take, nation-wide ceasefire and so on - could follow at a later stage.

I fully support and willingly to contribute effort for this noble goal

Release these good people now, for Burma's future.

For the sake of peace, freedom & justice

Who has believed in his/her freedom opinion and wants share to his/her society. As like these person (political prisoners) had detained in Burma' prisons and military regime has been treated like animal. We Burmese people really want to Free All Political Prisoners and immediately want to receive "Peaceful and Freedom" in Burma. Please Promote Your Freedom to Ours!

This is an urgent matter, and for any peace process to realistically take shape, all political prisoners must be released. Pressure is needed. 

The Shan Nationality Family is one of the world family members who loved peace, truth, development like other human beings and have respectful leaders who endeavoured to promote the campaign for common democracy in our region and now they had sentenced long term jail by current Burmese regime SPDC unfairly. Therefore, we kindly need your gentlemen helps with sympathies as for the same family of the world that unfortunate amongst many fortunate like the rest ones of the same planet. 

Do something about this injustice, please.

I strongly agree to support our petition for Khun Htun Oo and all political prisoners in Burma

Free all political prisoners in Burma where the Burmese military junta has denied their basic human rights enshrined in the Universal Human Rights Declaration adopted by the UN in 1948.

When Bosnia and Kosovo were being destroyed and its peoples exterminated, the international community responded. Shan State is the same triangular shape as Bosnia, but it is much bigger, has more people, and the war has been going on for decades. We need help before it is too late! 

Release Shan leaders and all Political Prisoners in Burma and prevent government crimes (i.e. poisoning, torturing, murdering) in military’s Jails.

To prove SPDC's pure heart of changing for Democracy.