Junta releases prisoners amidst condemnation by HRW

by Mungpi
Thursday, 17 September 2009 22:13

New Delhi (Mizzima) - Burma’s military junta announced amnesty for over 7,000 prisoners across the country on Thursday, a day after the Human Rights Watch condemned the regime for having doubled the arrest and detention of political prisoners.

An announcement on the State-run Television in Burma on Thursday evening said, the government has decided to give amnesty to 7,114 prisoners across the country on humanitarian grounds and to enable them to be useful for the state as well as to their communities.

The announcement, however, did not make any mention of political prisoners.

Ohn Kyaing, spokesperson of the main opposition party the National League for Democracy said, while expectations are low on the possibilities of the inclusion of political prisoners among those released, he added, “We are hoping against all odds.”

On Wednesday, the HRW, the New York-based advocacy group, said Burma’s ruling junta in the past two years had intensified arrest of dissidents and are currently detaining more than 2,200 political prisoners including 100, who were arrested in recent months.

HRW, in a new report titled “Burma’s Forgotten Prisoners” said Burma’s military regime has arrested and detained dozens of prominent political activists, Buddhist monks, labour activists, journalists, and artists since the peaceful political protests in 2007 and sentenced them to draconian prison terms following unfair trials.

Burma’s military rulers, however, have constantly denied having any political prisoners and proclaimed implementing a seven-step roadmap to democracy.

But HRW said, “Burma's rulers should immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners… if scheduled elections in 2010 are to have any credibility.”

It is still not known if the 7,114 prisoners that are being granted amnesty on Thursday would include any political prisoners.

The announcement on Thursday is in keeping with the Burmese Ambassador to the United Nations Than Swe’s promise to the Security Council in July, after the Secretary General’s failed trip to the country, where he was denied a request to meet opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Than Swe told the Council that at the request of the UN Secretary General his government, “is processing to grant amnesty to prisoners on humanitarian grounds and to enable them to participate in the 2010 general elections.”

Tom Malinowski, HRW’s advocacy director in Washington, in a statement said, "Despite recent conciliatory visits by UN and foreign officials, the military government is actually increasing the number of critics it is throwing into its squalid prisons."

"Burma's generals are planning elections next year that will be a sham if their opponents are in prison," Malinowski added.

The HRW is also launching a new global campaign “2100 by 2010” calling for the release of all political prisoners in Burma by 2010.

"We named the campaign ‘2100 by 2010' in July - but since then, the number has grown to approximately 2250," said Malinowski.

"The United States, China, India, and Burma's neighbours in Southeast Asia should make the release of all political prisoners a central goal of their engagement with Burma, and use every tool of influence and leverage they have to achieve it," urged Malinowski.

HRW also said that the ruling junta, instead of arresting and detaining political prisoners including Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and other student leaders, monks and intellectuals, should be allowed to participate in helping the country.

“Instead of being persecuted and imprisoned, people like Zargana, U Gambira, Su Su Nway and Min Ko Naing should be allowed to help their country," said Malinowski.

The HRW also urged foreign officials, who visit Burma, not to just meet Aung San Suu Kyi, but other Burmese political activists in prison to solicit their views and show support for their courageous and important work.