It is estimated that there are approximately 300 monks and novices in Burma's prisons, whereas the number of political prisoners lingers at about 1400 to date.

The report reveals stories of arbitrary arrests of Buddhist monks by the successive military regimes. Moreover, it includes firsthand accounts of monks who have been tortured by the authorities concerned at interrogation centers, prisons and labor camps; also partial lists of monks that have died in prison and labor camps, and monks who are currently detained in prison.

The report also includes background history and photos of 26 monks (of which 25 are novices) from Tipitaka Mahar Ghandaryone monastery who were arrested in November 2003 and sentenced to 18 years in prison because they refused a meal offered by the military regime.

Concerning the release of the report, Secretary of the Association Tate Naing said," In Burma, because there are no human rights or democracy, even Buddhist monks have been restrained by the military regime under several orders and decrees. Thus we want the Burmese people as well as the international community to know that monks are also subject to arbitrary arrest for peacefully expressing one's own desire; this is why we publish the report.

The report is available in pdf. file and thus we can send via email on request. File size is 705 KB. For those who would like to receive a printed version, please contact the following:

Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)
Tate Naing (+66) 1 287 8751
Bo Kyi (+66) 1 324 8935