[Myanmar] Quintana Welcomes Prisoner Release

Tomás Ojea Quintana, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Burma, said on Thursday he welcomed the government’s recent release of political prisoners and urged the authroities to continue “this systematic liberation†without conditions. “Bold steps are needed now to overcome the legacy of the past and to ensure that no prisoners of conscience are left behind,†said Quintana. He also called on political and civil society organizations to clarify exactly how many prisoners are left. Quintana was able to meet a number of political detainees during his last visit to Burma in August.