Tuesday 21st April is the first anniversary of the death of U Win Tin, a former political prisoner and a hero of Burma’s struggle for democracy and human rights. On this day around the world, people will be wearing a blue shirt in memory of U Win Tin and all the political prisoners still in Burma’s jails.

Please wear blue, and help spread the word by posting a picture of yourself on Facebook, Twitter etc using the hashtag #blueshirt4burma. Or on Instagram: @blueshirt4burma.

U Win Tin, a journalist and founding member of the National League for Democracy, was one of Burma’s longest serving political prisoners, describing his time in jail from 1989 until 2008 as living in hell. On his release he refused to hand over his blue prison shirt, and pledged to wear a blue shirt every day until all political prisoners were released. He carried on wearing a blue shirt until his death.

As the first anniversary of his death approaches, at least 173 political prisoners remain in Burma’s jails, with a further 316 activists awaiting trial. The number of political prisoners has risen by almost 600 percent since the start of 2014.