Local Amnesty International supporters are staging an event on the river in Cardigan to support three young prisoners in Burma.

On Saturday, July 3, members of Cardigan and North Pembrokeshire Amnesty International Group are asking local people to join them between 1pm and 3pm to set a fleet of handmade origami boats to sail on the River Teifi at Prince Charles Quay.

The aim is to raise awareness and show support for three young prisoners in Burma, and to sign a postcard to the Burmese Government to ask for their release.

Making the little boats and setting them on the water mimics the peaceful protest conducted in Burma by the young activists who are currently in jail.

They were arrested in 2008 for peacefully campaigning about a referendum in their country. They organised a launch of paper boats and released balloons carrying their peaceful political messages.

The authorities responded harshly to this peaceful act of defiance, and the three youth activists were imprisoned without trial for between 35 and 37 years each.

Members of Cardigan and North Pembrokeshire Amnesty International Group will write messages of support and solidarity for them on the boats before they set the origami crafts afloat.

Local Amnesty activist Audrey Swann said "In the UK it is inconceivable that such a harmless act of peaceful protest could result in being thrown in jail for nearly four decades without a trial. These are young men who simply wanted to make their views heard in their country. It is important that we show our support for them so they know they have not been forgotten and so that we draw attention to the injustices happening in Burma.

“Everyone should have the right to free expression, without the threat of imprisonment for angering the authorities. We are very lucky that we have that right, and we need to remember that not everyone enjoys such basic freedom."