CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 2. LONG HISTORY OF POLITICAL ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT 11 3. INCREASE OF POLITICALLY MOTIVATED ARRESTS AND IMPRISONMENT 11 3.1 Resurgence of lengthy detention and imprisonment 16 3.2 The weakening of organizations and movements 20 3.3 Creating and maintaining a climate of fear 27 3.4 Influence of nationalist groups 29 4. A REPRESSIVE LEGAL FRAMEWORK 32 4.1 International legal framework: The Rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly32 4.2 Myanmar’s legal framework 33 5. ENDING THE CYCLE OF POLITICAL ARRESTS AND IMPRISONMENT 44 5.1 Unconditional releases 46 5.2 A functioning prisoners of conscience committee 46 5.3 Support to former prisoners of conscience and political prisoners 48 5.4 Other recommendations 50 NEW EXPRESSION MEETS OLD REPRESSION ENDING THE CYCLE OF POLITICAL ARRESTS AND IMPRISONMENT IN MYANMAR Amnesty International 4