Burma is about to hold its first national election in two decades.

In the last elections in 1990, the National League for Democracy (NLD) won a resounding victory -- only for the military government to ignore the results and arrest scores of opposition activists who threatened their grip on power.

We cannot let this happen again.

Many of Burma's 50 million people live in poverty. And those who express views contrary to that of the ruling authorities face harassment, arrest, torture, imprisonment and, sometimes, execution. Many are held in solitary confinement, denied access to medical care and cut off from their families and loved ones.

More than 2,200 political prisoners are behind bars in Burma - silenced simply for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association.

Now is the time to act

The eyes of the world are on Burma as they prepare for elections. As the moment draws nearer, governments of Burma's neighbouring countries are under pressure to speak out against the military government.

Now is a critical time to pressure these Ministers and defend the three freedoms - expression, assembly and association - in Burma.

We cannot let the repression continue while Burma's election goes ahead. With your help, we can work towards a global outcry that ensures the people of Burma are protected in the lead up to the 2010 elections and beyond.