AAPP and DIGNITY Launch Groundbreaking Report on Post-Imprisonment Challenges in Burma
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners of Burma (AAPP) and DIGNITY today unveiled a powerful new report, Struggle for Survival: Resilience in the Face of Prison’s Aftershocks, which sheds light on the enduring trauma and systemic challenges faced by Burma’s former political prisoners. The report highlights the compounding impact of arbitrary arrest, torture, imprisonment, and post-release oppression under Burma’s military junta.
Building on AAPP’s earlier findings in The Flow of Injustice (2023), this report draws from 30 interviews with former political prisoners and examines the severe consequences of imprisonment. The findings underscore how released political prisoners continue to grapple with trauma, surveillance, economic and health hardships, and displacement.
Ko Bo Kyi, Joint Secretary of AAPP, stressed the urgency of international intervention:
“Political prisoners in Burma endure unimaginable suffering, both during and after imprisonment. Their resilience is extraordinary, but their struggle continues in silence. This report amplifies their voices and calls for global action to end these atrocities and support survivors.”
The report reveals that nearly four years after Burma’s 2021 coup, over 28,000 political prisoners have been detained, many subjected to torture, sexual violence, and arbitrary imprisonment. Even upon release, their suffering persists as they face social ostracization, economic deprivation, physical and mental trauma, and threats of re-arrest.
DIGNITY’s CEO, Rasmus Grue Christensen, emphasized the report’s international implications:
“This is not just a Burma issue—it is a human rights crisis. The international community must step up to hold perpetrators accountable and provide tangible support to survivors. Transitional justice, mental health care, and livelihood assistance are urgently needed.”
Key recommendations from the report include:
- Immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
- Comprehensive support for livelihoods, healthcare, and education for former political prisoners and their families.
- International action to gather evidence of human rights violations for accountability in a transitional period.
The launch of Struggle for Survival comes at a critical time, as Burma’s democratic future hangs in the balance. This report serves as a rallying call for the United Nations, ASEAN, and global leaders to prioritize justice and amplify the voices of those fighting for freedom.
For further information please contact:
AAPP: [email protected]
DIGNITY: [email protected]
