into the current

8/2/2019 Into the Current

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Into the Current: Burmas Political Prisoners

http://www.intothecurrent.org/

Into the Currentis a film by director Jeanne Hallacyand produced by Ko Bo Kyi, joint-secretary of

AAPP-B.

Into the Currentsheds valuable light on the plight of political prisoners in Burma. The film will be

screened internationally in efforts to raise awareness on the continued repression in Burma, and to

show audience members how they can do their part in the struggle for releasing all political

prisoners in Burma (see What You Can Do below).

Throughout March and the beginning of April the film will be screened at various locations in the

US and Bo Kyi will speak and participate in question and answer sessions. For dates see below.

Events for Europe will also take place and when these are confirmed, details will be posted.

The film follows the stories and sacrifices of former political prisoner Bo Kyi and an underground

team who work tirelessly and often at great risk on behalf of their jailed colleagues. It illuminates

the profoundly inspiring political vision of many recently released prisoners, at a time when Burmais just beginning historical change towards democratic reform. And it shows why the prisoners'

moral courage and leadership will be vital during the fragile period ahead in a Burma on the cusp of

change.

'Into the Current' deepens our understanding of the long Burmese quest to replace dictatorship

with a modern democracy that respects human rights and ensures lasting peace in ethnic areas

impacted by war and gross human rights abuses. The film poses key questions about the legal and

combines sophisticated production values with a political

message that is not watered down for Western audiences

Irrawaddy (full review)

Contributing to the considerable power of the film is a quiet,

understated commentary, a musical score that exactly matches

each change of mood and authoritative appearances by a man

charged with the responsibility of making sure Burmas political

prisoners are not forgottenBo Kyi Mizzima(full review)

..There has been a growing international misconception that

Myanmar (Burma) has turned a corner on human rights and

political participation. With power and authority, Into the

Currentsets the record straightAmnesty International, United

Kingdom

draws attention to the plight of the countrys activists as the

government releases hundreds of prisoners in an amnesty

program Voice of America(full review)
http://www.intothecurrent.org/http://www.intothecurrent.org/http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=22736http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=22736http://www.mizzima.com/news/prisoner-watch/6342-political-prisoners-tragedy-captured-in-video.htmlhttp://www.mizzima.com/news/prisoner-watch/6342-political-prisoners-tragedy-captured-in-video.htmlhttp://www.mizzima.com/news/prisoner-watch/6342-political-prisoners-tragedy-captured-in-video.htmlhttp://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Burma--138150283.htmlhttp://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Burma--138150283.htmlhttp://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Burma--138150283.htmlhttp://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Burma--138150283.htmlhttp://www.mizzima.com/news/prisoner-watch/6342-political-prisoners-tragedy-captured-in-video.htmlhttp://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=22736http://www.intothecurrent.org/


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institutional reforms needed to end political repression and torture. It looks at how key leader

Aung San Suu Kyi can contribute to lasting change with her candidacy in upcoming elections -- and

it shows just why it is so vital now that the polls are free and fair.

Situation of Political Prisoners Now: denial of civil and political rights continues

The release of 300 political prisoners on 13 January, the most substantial and significant release of

political prisoners to date in Asia, will be remembered as a watershed moment in Burmas history.

Prominent political prisoners serving over 65 year sentences, including Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi,

Htay Kywe, U Khun Htun Oo, walked to freedom on that day. The wave of jubilation extended

around the world as international communities warmly welcomed the release and cited the event

as a genuine marker of democracy finally coming to Burma.

There remains, however, much more to be done.

Given the absolute lack of prison transparency in Burma, and the fact that the Thein Sein regime

continues to deny the existence of political prisoners in Burma, it is enormously difficult to ascertain

the real number of individuals behind bars for their human rights and political activities.

One of AAPPs main responsibilities is to document the number of political prisoners behind bars in

Burma and the conditions they are held in. This information is vital to securing the release of every

political prisoner in Burma. Since September, AAPP has been verifying the political prisoner

database to ensure its list is as up to date and accurate as possible. As of 2 March, AAPP can confirm

there are at least843 political prisoners in Burma, and we have verified the prison location and the

arrest details of419 political prisoners.

The number however, is believed to be much higher, as AAPP has limited access to remote ethnic

areas where there have been disturbing trends of villagers being arrested en masse.

Indeed, already 2 have been re-arrested. Nay Myo Zin, NLD charity worker, was arrested the day

after his release on spurious charges of having a key chain and t-shirt in prison with Aung Sans

image. U Gambira, prominent monk, was detained at 2a.m. on unknown charges, though it is

believed his arrest was related to his affiliation with a monastery that houses activist monks and

has been sealed off by authorities multiple times since January. These are just a few examples of

what life is like for activists and dissidents in a democratizing Burma.

The hundreds of political prisoners still in jail must not be forgotten while the West rapidly engages

Burma and rewards the regime for so-called democratic progress. And those who have been

released urgently need support so they can resume their lives with dignity.

What You Can Do: Free Burmas Political Prisoners Now!

There are many ways you can get involved and make a concrete, practical impact on the lives of

political prisoners.


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1. Write a letter to your political representative, urging them to adopt a resolution to free allpolitical prisoners in Burma without delay. Click here for draft wording. Note, this is for US

Congress, an EU version will be uploaded soon.

2. Help a former political prisoner become economically self-sustainable and regain theirlivelihood by making a small donation. More information to be uploaded soon.

3. Do an alternative tour of Burma with a former political prisoner as your guide. Moreinformation to be uploaded soon.

4. Host a film screening ofInto the Currentat your university, organization, film group, etc. Getin contact with us and we will help locate a speaker at your event if there is one nearby and

available.

5. Download out campaign toolkit to be uploaded soon.Upcoming Film Screenings:

MARCH 2012

SAN FRANCISCO

10 March - Bay Area Premiere -Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 6 pm

12 March - Stanford University (Bechtel Conference Center at Encina Hall), 4 - 6 pm

13 March -City College of San Francisco, 11.10 am - 12.30 pm

13 March -Santa Clara University(Bannan Hall, rm. 127), 4 - 6 pm

14 March -Sonoma State University, 12 noon - 2 pm

14 March -UC Berkeley, 6 - 8 pm

15 March -San Francisco Film Commission- Amnesty International Film Screening, San Francisco

Film Collective, 6 - 9 pm

SEATTLE

16 March - Meaningful Movies,Keystone Congregational United Church of Christ, 6.30 - 9.30 pm

17 March -Bay Elliott Book Center, 1.30 - 3.30 pm

17 March - World Affairs Council - venue TBC, 4 - 6.30 pm

SAN FRANCISCO

18 March- Bissap Baobop, 6 pm - 10 pm

19 March -University of San Francisco, 3 - 5 pm

SALT LAKE CITY

20 March -Utah Film Center, 7 pm.
http://www.oacc.cc/http://www.oacc.cc/http://www.oacc.cc/http://bcc.stanford.edu/http://bcc.stanford.edu/http://bcc.stanford.edu/http://www.ccsf.edu/http://www.ccsf.edu/http://www.ccsf.edu/http://www.scu.edu/map/http://www.scu.edu/map/http://www.scu.edu/map/http://www.sonoma.edu/http://www.sonoma.edu/http://www.sonoma.edu/http://berkeley.edu/http://berkeley.edu/http://berkeley.edu/http://filmsf.org/http://filmsf.org/http://filmsf.org/http://www.gmu.edu/http://www.gmu.edu/http://www.gmu.edu/http://www.elliottbaybook.com/http://www.elliottbaybook.com/http://www.elliottbaybook.com/http://www.bissapbaobab.com/http://www.bissapbaobab.com/http://www.bissapbaobab.com/http://www.usfca.edu/http://www.usfca.edu/http://www.usfca.edu/http://utahfilmcenter.org/http://utahfilmcenter.org/http://utahfilmcenter.org/http://utahfilmcenter.org/http://www.usfca.edu/http://www.bissapbaobab.com/http://www.elliottbaybook.com/http://www.gmu.edu/http://filmsf.org/http://berkeley.edu/http://www.sonoma.edu/http://www.scu.edu/map/http://www.ccsf.edu/http://bcc.stanford.edu/http://www.oacc.cc/


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RICHMOND

22 March - Cinema Connect, 7 - 9.30 pm

WASHINGTON D.C.

26 March -George Washington University, 12.30 - 2 pm

27 March- George Mason University, 4.30 - 6.30 pm

NEW YORK

30 March -New York University School of Law, time TBC

April

3 April- Southwest Illinois University, time TBC

MORE DATES TBC

If you want to screen Into the Current, please contact:

Thailand: +6686 003 2316. USA: +1 415 548 3954

For further details and all requests for information, screenings and future events please email:

[email protected]

http://www.intothecurrent.org/
http://www.gwu.edu/http://www.gwu.edu/http://www.gwu.edu/http://www.gmu.edu/http://www.gmu.edu/http://www.gmu.edu/http://www.law.nyu.edu/http://www.law.nyu.edu/http://www.law.nyu.edu/http://www.swic.edu/http://www.swic.edu/http://www.swic.edu/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.intothecurrent.org/http://www.intothecurrent.org/http://www.intothecurrent.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.swic.edu/http://www.law.nyu.edu/http://www.gmu.edu/http://www.gwu.edu/

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