|PIC1|Top British politicians have added their names to a petition by Christian Solidarity Worldwide urging the UN Secretary General to make the release of thousands of political prisoners in Burma his personal priority.

Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague, former Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock, former Lib Dem leader David Steel, and Shadow Secretary of State for International Development Andrew Mitchell are among some 250,000 people to have signed the petition.

Mr Hague said it was vital that people “summon up the will of the international community” to influence the military junta in Burma and bring about the release of political prisoners.

According to CSW, there are 2,100 political prisoners in Burma, including pro-democracy activist and leader of the opposition National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, who since 1989 has spent around 13 years under house arrest.

“Burma’s democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and all political prisoners in jail today, are detained simply for speaking about freedom. These courageous people deserve our support. We must use our liberty to promote theirs,” said Lord Kinnock.

The ChangeforBurma! petition has been released by CSW as part of its role in an international coalition pressing for democracy in Burma, led by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners and the Forum for Democracy in Burma.

CSW’s East Asia Team Leader Benedict Rogers said: “We are delighted to have the support of such major political figures for this campaign.

“It shows just how seriously the issue is taken, and it should send a message to the regime in Burma that their gross abuse of prisoners of conscience has not gone unnoticed by the world.

“We will not stay silent, and will continue to campaign until all political prisoners in Burma, including democracy leader and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, are free.”