Khun Bedu
Khun Bedu | |
|---|---|
 Khun Bedu found in a liberated area (2024) | |
| Born | 12 June 1984 |
| Nationality | Burmese |
| Known for | anti-SPDCactivism, 2008-2012 imprisonment |
Khun Bedu(born 1984) is an ethnicallyKarenniBurmesepolitical activist who was imprisoned from 2008 to 2012 for organizing protests against the2008 Constitutional Referendum.He is the leader of theKarenni Nationalities Defence Force,an armed resistance group participating in thecountry's ongoing civil war.[1]
Involvement in protests[edit]
In 2004, Khun Bedu joined the human rights groupKayan New Generation Youth(KNGY). He was appointed the group's joint secretary on 12 August 2007.[2]In this role, he led trainings on human rights issues, community organizing, constitutional issues, and election systems.[2]
In 2008, theState Peace and Development Council,Burma's military government, announced a referendum for a new constitution which guaranteed that one quarter of all parliamentary seats would be reserved for military officers,[3]that the Ministry of Home Affairs would fall exclusively under military control,[3]and that Burmese citizens married to foreigners would be ineligible for office, apparently disqualifying leading opposition figure andNobellaureateAung San Suu Kyi.[4]Aung San Suu Kyi's party, theNational League for Democracy,called on eligible citizens to vote "no" in the referendum, and claimed their campaign was violently suppressed by government officials as a result.[5]
Arrest and imprisonment[edit]
The KNGY human rights group also announced its opposition to the referendum. Khun Bedu, along withKhun KawrioandKhun Dee De,reportedly organized members to protest the vote inLoikawand Demo Soe,Kayah State.[6]On 27 April, the words "no" and "vote no" began to appear on government signs, and on 30 April, group members sprayed a large "X" on a sign by the Loikaw city hall reading "To be a prosperous and developed nation, let’s support the referendum".[2]The protesters also released balloons with attached signs reading "no", sent rafts frombanana treewood or bathing cups floating down the Beluchong River with small flags reading "vote no", and distributed copies of the video of the lavish wedding ofThan Shwe's daughter.[2][6]
On 10 May 2008, authorities arrested Khun Bedu, Khun Kawrio, and Khun Dee De and charged them with organizing the protests against the state.Amnesty Internationalreported that the men were then tortured for fifteen days, with the techniques including beatings by guards, forced kneeling on stones, suffocation with plastic bags,waterboarding,and prolonged exposure to hostile weather. Khun Bedu and Khun Kawrio were sentenced to 37 years of imprisonment apiece, and Khun Dee De to 35 years.[6]
Myanmar civil war[edit]
Khun Bedu is the chairman of theKarenni Nationalities Defence Force,a resistance group opposed to thecountry's military dictatorshipin theongoing civil war.[1]
Khun Bedu thought the ceasefire ofOperation 1027allowed the military to "consolidate their power and continue to maintain the central area". He blamed China for supporting the military, stated junta more frequently usingdrones rigged with explosivesinkamikaze-style attacks or to drop bombs on resistance positions.[7]
International attention[edit]
Khun Bedu served his sentence inTaungoo prisonofBago Division.[6]Amnesty Internationalconsidered him aprisoner of conscienceand called for his immediate release.[6]The British ambassador to Burma reportedly also pressed the government to release Khun Bedu.[8]
In 2010,BritishShadowTreasury MinisterDavid Hansonspoke out on behalf of Khun Bedu and other Burmese political prisoners, stating that "Just days before the Burmese elections I want to show my support for those political prisoners who are unfairly imprisoned purely for speaking out against an unjust regime... We must not forget them and must each do our bit to remind the world of their plight."[9]
Release[edit]
According to theAssistance Association for Political Prisoners,Khun Bedu was pardoned on 13 January 2012, as part of aseries of amnesties for political prisoners.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ab"Q&A: Karenni leader Khun Bedu is 'determined to restore the people's government'".Frontier Myanmar.2023-09-07.Retrieved2023-11-22.
- ^abcd"AAPP CASE NO.: 0134".Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.Retrieved3 May2011.
- ^abNew Burma constitution published,BBC, 2008-04-09, accessed on 2008-04-10
- ^AFP: Ban on Suu Kyi shatters hopes for Myanmar polls: analystsArchived2011-04-27 at theWayback Machine
- ^Many voices silenced as Myanmar vote campaign gets under wayArchived2011-04-29 at theWayback Machine,Philippine Daily Inquirer,2008-04-20
- ^abcde"Burma: Release peaceful protestors Khun Bedu, Khun Kawrio and Khun Dee De".Amnesty International.2008. Archived fromthe originalon 2 June 2011.Retrieved3 May2011.
- ^Andrew Nachemson (2024-03-26)."'Backs to the wall': Myanmar military prepares to mark Armed Forces Day ".Al Jazeera.
- ^"ANSWERS TO WRITTEN PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS"(PDF).Burma Campaign UK. September 2010.Retrieved4 May2011.
- ^"Hanson Shows Solidarity with Burmese Political Prisoners".davidhanson.org.uk. 7 November 2010.Retrieved3 May2011.
- ^"Released 217 PPs".Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.14 January 2012.Retrieved15 January2012.[permanent dead link]