PETITION

To: Honorable Madeleine K. Albright
    Secretary of State of the United States

We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned about the severe curtailment of free expression in Myanmar (Burma). Restrictions on individuals' peaceful expression of opinions, accompanied by the imprisonment of journalists solely for their political commentaries and analyses, violates universal rights to impart information and receive information.

We respectfully request the U.S. Department of State to work actively for the protection of free expression in Myanmar (Burma), using its influence to ensure that Burmese authorities uphold the principle proclaimed in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and
expression; this right includes freedom to hold
opinions withoout interference and to seek, receive and
impart information and ideas through any media and
regardless of frontiers."

We ask you to take appropriate steps for securing the immediate and unconditional release of journalists and others jailed in Burma because they peacefully exercised their right to free expression.

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Please sign and mail this petition to Honorable Madeleine K. Albright, Secretary of State of the United States, Department of State, 2201 C Street NW, Washington, DC  20520. Petitions also can be faxed to the Secretary of State at: (202) 647-5939.