Parliamentarians from across Southeast Asia have raised concerns at the re-arrest

of former monk and pro-democracy leader U Gambira on alleged immigration offenc

es and called on authorities to ensure his immediate and safe release in a state
ment released on 21 January.
This arrest seems to be on trumped up charges and is most likely politically moti
vated. Gambira has sacrificed a great deal to support the rights of the Myanmar
people to fight for democracy and should be treated accordingly not hounded and
thrown in jail, said Son Chhay, Cambodian Member of Parliament and Vice-Chair of
ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR).
As parliamentarians with commitments to democratic values, we must raise our voic
es in concern when those that fight peacefully to uphold these ideals face haras
sment, threats, and injustice from the authorities. Its our responsibility to see
k his release, and we call on parliamentarians in Myanmar to do the same, he adde
d.
U Gambira, a key leader of the 2007 Saffron Revolution, a series of monk-led pro-d
emocracy protests, was sentenced in 2008 to 68 years in prison for his role in t
he movement. He was released in an amnesty in January 2012 but has spent much of
the past few years in Thailand after complaining of harassment by security offi
cials in Myanmar. He suffers from severe PTSD as a result of alleged torture dur
ing his time in detention.
According to reports, Gambira was arrested again on 19 January at his hotel in M
andalay after returning to Myanmar from Thailand to apply for a new passport. He
has reportedly been charged with entering the country illegally and faces up to
five years in prison. He is currently being detained, pending an initial hearin
g, which has been set for 3 February.
Gambiras arrest at this pivotal time for Myanmar is extremely concerning and risk
s sacrificing any potential positive legacy of the government of President Thein
Sein, APHR said.
The outgoing military-backed government is not sending the signal that it is read
y to work with other stakeholders to see Myanmar grow into an open society that
upholds international human rights norms, and this has concerning undertones for
the tenure of the next government, Son Chhay said.