YANGON, Myanmar — A coalition of more than 30 pro-democracy organizations has launched a 12-day “Blue Shirt Campaign” to demand the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Myanmar, including ousted leaders Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint.
The movement, which began on Friday, April 10, 2026, commemorates the legacy of the late veteran journalist and NLD co-founder U Win Tin. Known for his unwavering defiance, U Win Tin famously wore a blue prison shirt even after his release, vowing to keep it on until every political prisoner in the country was free. April 21 marks the 12th anniversary of his passing.
The Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM) is spearheading the campaign, inviting the public both inside the country and abroad to wear blue clothing and share photos or videos on social media using specific hashtags.
“Our message is simple: work together for the release of all political prisoners,” Ma Yaung Ni Lin, a member of the PPNM leading committee, told MPA. “Freeing those unjustly detained is a vital step toward the total liberation of our people and the end of the military dictatorship.”
\The blue shirt has long been a potent symbol of resistance in Myanmar. Under the current sham government led by General Min Aung Hlaing, the number of political detainees has swelled to unprecedented levels. Activists argue that the detention of elected leaders and thousands of young protesters is a central pillar of the junta’s strategy to suppress dissent.
The campaign has garnered broad support from a diverse array of groups, including the General Strike Coordination Body (GSCB), the Karenni Political Prisoners Association (KPPA), and various women’s and student unions. International advocacy groups such as Defend Myanmar Democracy (DMD) and India For Myanmar (I4M) are also participating, highlighting the global dimension of the crisis.
The launch of the campaign comes at a time of increasing tension within Myanmar’s overcrowded prison system. Reports of torture, lack of medical care, and arbitrary extensions of sentences have become commonplace since the 2021 coup.
“The release of political prisoners is not just a humanitarian issue; it is a political necessity for any future resolution,” a spokesperson for the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) noted.
As the campaign progresses toward its climax on April 21, the streets of Yangon and Mandalay remain under heavy surveillance. However, the “Blue Shirt” movement represents a quiet but persistent form of defiance—a reminder that despite years of brutal crackdowns, the demand for justice and the return of democracy remains as vibrant as the color blue itself.
