Amnesty International has launched an online photo action to highlight the case of the 2,200 political prisoners in Burma, imprisoned for peaceful activities including campaigning for democracy, supporting victims of cyclone Nargis and standing up for workers’ rights.
UNISON is supporting the campaign and encouraging people to highlight the case of labour activist Su Su Nway, currently serving an eight-and-a-half year sentence for her peaceful pro-democracy activities.
The Amnesty campaign is a simple one which allows people to upload a photo of themselves onto the Amnesty website with the name of a political prisoner written on the palm of their hand (the Buddhist symbol for fearlessness).
UNISON has been involved in the campaign for the release of political prisoners including UNISON honorary life member, Aung San Suu Kyi, and other trade union and labour activists.
As part of the current Amnesty campaign UNISON is urging activists to write Su Su Nway’s name on their hand, and upload it onto the Amnesty website. Su Su Nway was originally imprisoned (and later released because of international pressure) after reporting cases of forced labour to the ILO.
Amnesty will take all the photos to a summit meeting of political leaders from Asia and Europe, in Brussels in October – the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). Amnesty will call on these leaders to press for freedom for Burma’s political prisoners, and real human rights for Burma.
Dave Prentis, UNISON general secretary raised his hand for Su Su Nway (above). Please follow his lead.
Write Su Su Nway on the palm of your hand. Hold up your hand and have your photo taken. Upload it to 
Amnesty hand for Burma
Encourage others to do the same. Raise your hand for Burma’s political prisoners.