Junta’s amnesty: showcase or Real?

by Salai Pi Pi
Monday, 21 September 2009 22:38

New Delhi (Mizzima) – (Analysis) The junta’s most recent amnesty to over 7000 prisoners has triggered myriad speculations with some believing it is another attempt at mollifying the international community, even as the Burmese Prime Minister attends the United Nations’ General Assembly in New York.

Win Tin, a Central Executive Committee member of National League for Democracy (NLD) on Monday said, the junta had granted amnesty to political prisoners in an attempt to appease the international community before the Burmese Premier Thein Sein’s trip to New York.

“I think the amnesty is just a show to ease international pressure before the Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein goes to the United Nations’ General Assembly,” Win Tin said.

Thein Sein is planning to travel to New York to attend this year’s UN General Assembly.

The Burmese regime on 17 September 2009 announced amnesty for 7,114 prisoners on humanitarian grounds, which came after the release of prisoners including a handful of political prisoners, in the amnesty in September 2008 and February this year.

"The government on humanitarian ground and in consideration of their families, terminated the prison terms of 7,114 prisoners on 17 September 2009 from their respective prisons across the country in order to enable them to serve the interests of the regions, their own and the State after realizing the government's compassion and goodwill," Burma’s state-run TV on Thursday announced.

While the exact number of prisoners released is yet to be known, the Thailand-based Assistance Association of Political Prisoners (Burma) said, so far, 126 political prisoners were among the freed.

Tate Naing, Secretary of the AAPP-B said the amnesty is possibly in fulfillment of the promise made by Than Swe, the Burmese Ambassador to the UN, to the Security Council in July. During a briefing, after the UN Chief’s visit to Burma, Than Swe told members of the Security Council that his government is planning to free prisoners in order to allow them to participate in the election to be held in 2010.

“The amnesty could be a move to fulfill the promise that the junta made to the UNSC on the release of prisoners to allow them to participate in the forthcoming 2010 election,” said Tate Naing.

Burma’s military government has persistently denied having political prisoners in the country. But opposition sources said the release this time could include as many as 250 political prisoners.

But Larry Jagan, journalist specializing on Burma, said the amnesty could be just a part of the junta’s roadmap to democracy, and did not view it as the junta’s move to mollify the international community.

According to Jagan, Than Shwe, junta supremo, does not seem to care about international pressure but is focussed on pushing the regime’s planned elections next year, which is part of its roadmap to democracy.

He said amnesty for prisoners have been planned as early as the former Intelligence chief Khin Nyunt’s era. Khin Nyunt, who was serving as Prime Minister and Chief of Military Intelligence (MI) was purged in 2004.

The former UN special envoy, Razali Ismail, was told by Khin Nyunt during their discussions earlier that there would be amnesty for prisoners in the run-up to the 2010 elections, Jagan said.

“During the discussion, there was an agreement that there will a mass amnesty for political prisoners,” Jagan told Mizzima.

But Jagan also said, the amnesty could merely be a response by Senior General Than Shwe to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who during his visit to the country in July demanded substantial release of political prisoners.

“This could be fulfilling the promise Than Shwe made to Ban Ki-moon when he was there. He promised that there will be substantial release of political prisoners,” Jagan added.

The UN Chief on Friday, partially welcomed the junta’s release of a few political prisoners but reiterated his call for the release of more, including Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

“He reiterated his call to the Myanmar [Burmese] authorities to take further steps to ensure the release of the remaining political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, as a necessary step towards a credible process of national reconciliation and democratic transition,” Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement.