Myanmar: former child soldier locked up for speaking to the media

Aung Ko Htwe was just 13 years old when he was abducted from a railway station and forced to become a child soldier in the Myanmar military.

Now at 26, Aung Ko Htwe is serving a two-and-a-half year sentence simply for speaking out about his experiences in a radio interview.

In the face of state repression, Aung Ko Htwe’s tenacity persists. He bravely protested his conviction, announcing that he had no faith in the judicial system and refusing to participate in the trial. He now faces a further three years behind bars for his efforts.

The Myanmar military stole Aung Ko Htwe’s childhood from him. Now, authorities are trying to take his future away too.

But there is hope. International pressure has helped secure the release of thousands of prisoners in Myanmar, including a mass prisoner amnesty in 2018, the release of the “Unity 5” journalists in 2016, and the release of student leader Phyoe Phyoe Aung in 2015.

Now, Aung Ko Htwe needs your support. Will you stand up for him?

Tell the Myanmar authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Aung Ko Htwe and to change the laws to allow freedom of expression for all.