Myanmar yesterday began releasing hundreds of prisoners, including a political detainee and former military intelligence figures, on “humanitarian” grounds, officials said, in the latest large-scale amnesty in the once-pariah nation.
The reformist Burmese regime, which is in the process of preparing to host a landmark meeting of international and regional leaders next month, has granted a series of amnesties as part of reforms since the end of military rule in 2011.
Burmese President Thein Sein pardoned about 3,073 people, including 58 foreigners, citing “stability of the state, the rule of law” and “humanitarian” grounds, Burmese Minister of Information Ye Htut said on Facebook yesterday.
One prisoner held on political grounds was among those freed, said Ye Aung, a representative of the Former Political Prisoners Support Group, which is working with the government on negotiating the release of remaining dissidents.
“We only can confirm the release of one political prisoner from Myitkyina Prison. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment under the Explosives Act in 2013,” said Ye Aung, estimating that 75 political prisoners remain jailed.
“Releasing the prisoners is good. We welcome it, but we want the government to release more. Politically, it is meaningless without the release of many political prisoners,” Ye Aung said.
Before Myanmar’s reforms, rights groups accused the country of wrongfully imprisoning about 2,000 political detainees. Most have since been pardoned in sweeping amnesties thapaigners have said were often linked to high-profile visits by international figures.
In December last year, the country said there were no more political prisoners, but campaigners say dozens have been arrested under more recent legislation, mainly for protesting without permission, while several journalists have been jailed this year in trials that have drawn international concern.
Many former political prisoners have also suffered repeated arrest for continuing their activities.
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