Asia

With 'loving kindness', Myanmar frees 69 political prisoners

15 Nov 2013 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Myanmar released 69 political prisoners on Friday in an amnesty the government described as an act of "loving kindness" in line with President Thein Sein's promise to free all prisoners of conscience by year-end.

The amnesty was one of at least a dozen the reformist, quasi-civilian government has granted since taking over in March 2011 from a military leadership.

It also cuts by almost half the number of prisoners that non-governmental group the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in Myanmar (AAPP) estimates were held in Myanmar.

A statement from Thein Sein's office said the amnesty was decided to enable prisoners to "contribute in nation-building after realizing the loving kindness and goodwill of the state".

A panel appointed by Thein Sein is also working to release all political prisoners jailed by the junta by year-end, the statement added.

"We got the list from many sources, so we have to check if they are real political prisoners or not," said Nyan Win, a member of the panel and a senior aide to National League for Democracy (NLD) party leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who herself was detained, mostly under house arrest, for 15 years.

The NLD estimates about 80 political prisoners are still incarcerated, Nyan Win said.

Thein Sein, a former general and heavyweight in the army regime, had pledged during a visit to Britain in July that he would free all political prisoners by the end of this year.

Friday's release, like many of the amnesties that have been announced in the past two years, coincided with the visit of a high-profile foreign delegation, this time, the European Union.

The EU, United States and other Western countries have increased aid and investment and suspended most sanctions, partly in response to Myanmar freeing of hundreds of political prisoners and other liberal reforms unimaginable under the juntas that ruled for 49 unbroken years.

During the military's final years in power, as many as 2,500 people, including activists, journalists, politicians and even comedians, were under detention. Many were also subjected to torture.

Rights activists and the United Nations say the Myanmar government needs to end all political detentions. According to AAPP research, some 230 people still face charges over their political activities.

"We continue to receive reports of peaceful activists and human rights defenders being harassed and at risk of imprisonment for nothing but expressing their opinion," Amnesty International said in a statement following Friday's release.

"This has to end immediately, otherwise releases like the one today will be meaningless."

(This story was refiled to remove extraneous words in first paragraph)

(Reporting by Aung Hla Tun and Jared Ferrie; Editing by Martin Petty and Miral Fahmy)

(Source : Reuters)

Asia

With 'loving kindness', Myanmar frees 69 political prisoners

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