Burma releases at least 120 political prisoners

[News_Editor]

Burma releases at least 120 political prisoners

2011-10-12 23:23:02 GMT+7 (ICT)

YANGON (BNO NEWS) -- Authorities in the Asian country of Burma on Wednesday released more than 600 prisoners, including some 120 political prisoners, officials said. Among those released is famed comedian Zarganar.

The release came a day after state-run television announced an amnesty granted by President Thein Sein for 6,359 prisoners, although it did not say how many would be political prisoners. At least 120 political prisoners were released on Wednesday, but observers estimate that up to 300 political prisoners could be released during the coming days or weeks.

Among those released was comedian Zarganar who was arrested in May 2009 following his criticism of the government's handling of Cyclone Nargis, which killed more than 138,000 people in 2008. Zarganar was initially sentenced to 59 years in prison but this was later reduced to 35 years under the Electronic Transactions Act.

Other political prisoners released on Wednesday included nine Buddhist monks, one former military intelligence officer, one former captain, two prisoners convicted of bombings, 13 prisoners convicted of religious riots and five National League for Democracy members.

The move comes at a time when Burma, ruled by military regimes since 1962, is trying to move cautiously toward democracy. Western governments have been pressuring the government to release political prisoners and embark on democratic reforms, but progress has been slow.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague welcomed the release of political prisoners on Wednesday. "We look forward to the hopes for genuine change coming to fruition, and to seeing news of further releases and progress on other important issues," Hague said.

Victoria Nuland, a spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department, said during a press briefing that the United States would like to see all political prisoners released. "In the past, Burma has done a prisoner release of some kind a couple times a year. So we're obviously looking to see who these folks are and to hope that it is a full and ideally complete release of political prisoners," she said.

Some 20,000 prisoners were released on May 16 after President Thein Sein announced a one-year presidential commutation, but only a few were political prisoners.

According to the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners-Burma, there are at least 1,998 political prisoners in 42 prisons and 109 labor camps across Burma, which is formally known as Myanmar. Late last year, authorities released pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi after years under house arrest.

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