Burma Releases 651 Prominent Dissidents

News & Articles on Burma Friday, 13 January 2012

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - EU hails Myanmar's 'courageous' release of dissidents Myanmar frees leading political prisoners Burma releases 650 political prisoners in move to end isolation Burma releases high-profile political prisoners Myanmar regime pardons political prisoners, ex-PM Myanmar sets many political prisoners free Myanmar frees prominent political prisoners Myanmar frees many prominent political prisoners Sen. McConnell to go to Burma, meet Aung San Suu Kyi Min Ko Naing Calls for Peace in Ethnic Areas Burma Releases 651 Prominent Dissidents DVB journalists, freelancers and blogger freed under amnesty -------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - EU hails Myanmar's 'courageous' release of dissidents 13 January 2012, 16:22 CET - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (BRUSSELS) - European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton welcomed the release of prominent dissidents in Myanmar on Friday as a "courageous" step by the army-backed regime. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "I warmly welcome the substantial new release of political prisoners in Burma-Myanmar," Ashton said in a statement, referring to the country's old and new names. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "I am still evaluating the releases but note that some respected and well-known names are on the list," she said. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "This is a courageous step and a further confirmation that the reform course chosen by the government of Burma-Myanmar continues," Ashton said. Coupled with a ceasefire deals with guerrillas, the release "takes us a further step towards a new relationship with Burma-Myanmar," she added. Western powers have demanded the release of political detainees languishing in jail in the country formerly known as Burma before they will consider lifting sanctions on the regime and its cronies. Intensifying a surprising series of reforms, the regime pardoned prominent dissidents, journalists and a former premier on Friday. Text and Picture Copyright 2012 AFP. All other Copyright 2012 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable. http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/myanmar-politics.ej6 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------------------------------------- Myanmar frees leading political prisoners Friday, 13 January 2012 16:45 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - YANGON (AFP) - Myanmar pardoned prominent dissidents, journalists and a former premier Friday under a major prisoner amnesty, intensifying a surprising series of reforms by the army-backed regime. Western powers have demanded the release of political detainees languishing in jail in the country formerly known as Burma before they will consider lifting sanctions on the regime and its cronies. Friday's amnesty included members of the "88 Generation Students" group, which is synonymous with the democratic struggle in Myanmar and was at the forefront of a failed 1988 uprising in which thousands died. The mass pardon, which looked set to be the most significant yet under the nominally civilian government which took office last year, was hailed by democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party as a "positive sign". Amnesty International welcomed the release as "a major step forward." At least two high-profile student activists involved in the 1988 protests were among those granted amnesty, along with a leading Shan ethnic minority leader and a prominent monk involved in the 2007 "Saffron Revolution". "Years of international calls to release long-detained political prisoners seem to have pushed the government to finally do the right thing," said deputy Asia director for New York-based Human Rights Watch, Elaine Pearson. "The next step for Burma's government is to allow international monitors to verify the whereabouts and conditions of remaining political prisoners." The authorities said about 650 inmates would be included in total, but how many were dissidents was not immediately known. Campaigners called for the release of all remaining political prisoners, whose exact number is unclear. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the amnesty showed the regime was committed to change. "The release of all political prisoners is a long-standing demand of the international community and I warmly welcome these releases as a further demonstration of the Burmese government's commitment to reform," he said. Western nations appear eager to reward Myanmar if it demonstrates it is genuine about wanting to change. US President Barack Obama in December offered the regime a "new phase" in relations if it embraces democratic reform. Also included in Friday's release was former prime minister and military intelligence boss Khin Nyunt, who was placed under house arrest after being ousted in a 2004 power struggle. "Thein Sein is indeed talking about national reconciliation, not just with the democratic opposition and ethnic groups, but also with internal rivals," said Renaud Egreteau, Myanmar expert at the University of Hong Kong. Myanmar's government, which in March last year replaced a long-ruling military junta, has raised hopes in recent months by reaching out to Suu Kyi's opposition party, and inviting high-profile visits from top Western officials. It froze work on an unpopular dam supported by powerful neighbour China last year, and on Thursday signed a ceasefire with a major armed ethnic Karen group involved in one of the world's longest-running civil conflicts. About 200 political detainees had already been freed in October. Estimates of the number left in prison after that amnesty ranged from between 500 and more than 1,500. Even sceptics, however, have been surprised by the pace of the reforms. "I said again and again (the reform process) would be excruciatingly slow, but some of the changes are excruciatingly fast," said political analyst Aung Naing Oo of the Vahu Development Institute, a Thai-based think-tank. The country recently announced plans to hold by-elections on April 1 and Suu Kyi -- who was released from years of house arrest in November 2010 -- plans to stand for a seat in parliament in a constituency near the main city Yangon. The 66-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner said earlier this week that her country was "on the verge of a breakthrough to democracy". By Hla Hla Htay http://www.gazettebw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12181:myanmar-frees-leading-political-prisoners&catid=17:world-news&Itemid=2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------------------------------------- THE TELEGRAPH, 2:55PM GMT 13 Jan 2012 Burma releases 650 political prisoners in move to end isolation By Dean Nelson, New Delhi and Ian MacKinnon in Bangkok - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Burma's regime released more than 650 political prisoners on Friday, taking the most significant step towards ending its isolation and securing the removal of European Union and US sanctions. Those freed included leaders of a 1988 student uprising, Buddhist monks who demonstrated against the regime during the unrest of 2007, along with generals, intelligence agents and a former prime minister, who were all jailed during a power struggle in 2004. William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, made the release of all political prisoners a key demand when he visited Burma earlier this month. A week later, pro-democracy groups were keeping a live online count as dissidents emerged from jails across the country. They included Min Ko Naing, a student leader who was placed behind bars in 1989, and Khun Tun Oo, a leader of the Shan ethnic minority who defiantly denounced the government on his first day of freedom. "I didn't commit any of the crimes they accused me of," he said. "I have wasted seven years of my life for something I didn't do." Shin Gambira, the Buddhist monk who led mass protests against the military regime dubbed the 'Saffron Revolution' of 2007, was also freed. After being beaten up and enduring solitary confinement in four of his five prisons, he also voiced anger at his treatment. "[Burma] has still a long way to go. Although they are releasing prisoners now, they still have the characteristics of a dictatorship. What kind of democracy is this? They had to wait until today to release us," he said. But a spokesman for Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel laureate and leader of the National League for Democracy, welcomed the mass release as a "positive sign" adding: "Some [dissidents] are on their way home already." During his visit, Mr Hague told President Thein Sein that Britain would recommend the lifting of EU sanctions in April if all political prisoners were freed. The Foreign Secretary added that aid agencies should also be allowed to reach conflict zones in remote areas of Burma, and forthcoming parliamentary by-elections must be free and fair. Yesterday's releases were "exactly the kind of measure I called for in all my meetings with Burmese government leaders," said Mr Hague. The NLD has been trying to establish how many of its tally of 591 political prisoners have been freed. Last night, the NLD confirmed that 300 were out of jail. Another 200 of those released are believed to be military and intelligence figures arrested during the internal power struggle of 2004. Diplomats in Rangoon judge that around 450 political prisoners have been let out - well below the 1,500 listed by the Burma section of the Association for Political Prisoners. Nonetheless, pro-democracy groups acknowledged the significance of the moment. Thant Myint-U, a Burmese historian and political analyst, said the releases marked a "watershed", adding: "This Friday the 13th might go down as one of the most important days in the modern history of Burma. It's one of a few decisions taken over the past nine months that signal Burma is entering a new political era." Among those freed was General Khin Nyunt, a former prime minister and intelligence chief in the military regime. After leaving house arrest, he paid an unexpected tribute to Miss Suu Kyi, who is expected to seek a parliamentary seat in one of the 48 by-elections due on 1 April. "I welcome Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's efforts. If she is in the Hluttaw [Parliament], it will be better than it is now because she is brave and outspoken," he said. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/burmamyanmar/9013254/Myanmar-Burma-releases-650-political-prisoners-in-move-to-end-isolation.html --------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - January 13, 2012 9:42 AM Burma releases high-profile political prisoners YANGON, Burma - Burma freed some of its most famous political inmates Friday, sparking jubilation outside prison gates while signaling its readiness to meet Western demands for lifting economic sanctions. Prominent political activists, leaders of brutally repressed democratic uprisings, a former prime minister, ethnic minority leaders, journalists and relatives of the former dictator Ne Win were among those released in Burma, also known as Myanmar. State media described the presidential pardon freeing 651 detainees as allowing them to take part in "nation-building." It was the latest in a flurry of accelerating changes in Burma sought by the West, including starting a dialogue with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Thursday's signing of a cease-fire in a long-running campaign against Karen insurgents. Burma likely now feels the ball is the West's court to lift the crippling economic measures. But the United States and allies may take a wait-and-see approach, to see if government truces with various ethnic rebel groups hold, discussions with Suu Kyi move forward and scheduled April elections appear free and fair. "I think we are close to the removal of Western sanctions," said Monique Skidmore, a Burma expert at the University of Canberra, adding that the U.S. and others might first wait to see Aung San Suu Kyi take a seat in parliament. "There's a sense that there's still more to go before the sanctions will be removed." Human Rights Watch called Friday's release "a crucial development" in promoting human rights in Burma but stressed that an unknown number of political prisoners still remain detained. The group called for their release and urged the government to allow international monitors to enter prisons to verify the numbers and whereabouts of those still jailed. Until Friday, as many as 1,500 political prisoners were believed to be behind bars, by some counts, and the exact tally of those released Friday will likely take several days. Suu Kyi's party said it was expecting the release of many of the 600 dissidents it tracks. "The release of such a large number of political prisoners demonstrates the government's will to solve political problems through political means," said Win Tin, a senior member of Suu Kyi's party who previously spent 19 years in prison but was released under a 2008 amnesty. Among the high-profile inmates released were Min Ko Naing, a nearly legendary student leader from Burma's failed 1988 pro-democracy uprising. Cheers and applause erupted outside the Thayet prison, 345 kilometers north of Yangon, where a huge crowd gathered to see the charismatic activist. Min Ko Naing, leader of the "88 Generation Students Group," was serving a 65-year prison sentence. His most recent arrest came in August 2007 along with 14 other student leaders at a protest against fuel price increases that preceded the monk-led Saffron Revolution, which was violently suppressed. Activists arrested after the abortive 2007 Saffron Revolution, amed for the color of the robes worn by the country's Buddhist monks, were also freed. Among them were Shin Gambira, 32, a militant monk who helped lead the anti-government protests. Family members said he told them he was in good health. Also freed was ethnic leader Khun Tun Oo, the chairman of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, who was serving a 93-year sentence. He was arrested along with several other Shan leaders in February 2005 and charged with treason. Traditional Shan music blasted from speakers outside Khun Tun Oo's family home in Yangon, where a crowd danced as they awaited his return. The government recently signed a preliminary cease-fire agreement with Shan rebels, among several other pacts to end ethnic fighting. The Shan Herald Agency for News, an online news site close to the rebels, said five or six Shan political prisoners were freed Friday. Jailed former Prime Minister Khin Nyunt also was freed. He was ousted in 2004 after falling out of favor with the junta and convicted a year later of insubordination and corruption and sentenced to 44 years under house arrest. "The democratic process is on the right track," the 73-year-old Khin Nyunt told reporters in Yangon, saying he did not plan to return to politics. The United States, members of the European Union and Canada are among nations that have imposed sanctions on Burma. The U.S. and Britain have previously said they would remain in place until more political prisoners are released. "The United States wants to be a partner with Burma," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said during her recent historic visit to Burma. "We want to work with you as you further democratization, as you release all political prisoners, as you begin the difficult but necessary process of ending the ethnic conflicts that have gone on far too long, as you hold elections that are free, fair, and credible." http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57358562/burma-releases-high-profile-political-prisoners/ ------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Myanmar regime pardons political prisoners, ex-PM Published: Friday, Jan 13, 2012, 20:48 IST Place: Yangon | Agency: PTI Myanmar pardoned a number of prominent dissidents and a former premier today under a new prisoner amnesty, intensifying a surprising series of reforms by the army-backed regime. The release of hundreds of political prisoners in the country formerly known as Burma has long been a top demand of Western nations which impose sanctions on the military-dominated nation. Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party hailed the release as a "positive sign", raising hopes that the amnesty could be the most significant yet under the new nominally civilian government. "We welcome the release. Some (dissidents) are on their way home already," said a spokesman for Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party, without giving details about how many political detainees were freed. Former student activist Min Ko Naing was among those included, his family said. "He will be released this morning. The authorities informed us already," his sister Kyi Kyi Nyunt told AFP. Fellow student activist Htay Kywe, who was sentenced to 65 years in prison in 2007, was also among those pardoned, according to his family. A government official said former prime minister and military intelligence boss Khin Nyunt, who was placed in detention after his ouster in a 2004 power struggle, was another on the list. "Khin Nyunt will also be released," he told AFP. Officials announced late Thursday that an amnesty had been granted to about 650 inmates languishing in the country's jails. http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_myanmar-regime-pardons-political-prisoners-ex-pm_1637273 -------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Myanmar sets many political prisoners free 13 January 2012 / AP, YANGON Myanmar freed some of its most famous political inmates Friday, sparking jubilation outside prison gates while signaling its readiness to meet Western demands for lifting economic sanctions. Prominent political activists, leaders of brutally repressed democratic uprisings, a former prime minister, ethnic minority leaders, journalists and relatives of the former dictator Ne Win were among those released. State media described the presidential pardon freeing 651 detainees as allowing them to take part in “nation-building.” It was the latest in a flurry of accelerating changes in Myanmar sought by the West, including starting a dialogue with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Thursday's signing of a cease-fire in a long-running campaign against Karen insurgents. Myanmar likely now feels the ball is the West's court to lift the crippling economic measures. But the United States and allies may take a wait-and-see approach, to see if government truces with various ethnic rebel groups hold, discussions with Suu Kyi move forward and scheduled April elections appear free and fair. “I think we are close to the removal of Western sanctions,” said Monique Skidmore, a Myanmar expert at the University of Canberra, adding that the US and others might first wait to see Aung San Suu Kyi take a seat in parliament. “There's a sense that there's still more to go before the sanctions will be removed.” ‘A crucial development’ Human Rights Watch called Friday's release “a crucial development” in promoting human rights in Myanmar but stressed that an unknown number of political prisoners still remain detained. The group called for their release and urged the government to allow international monitors to enter prisons to verify the numbers and whereabouts of those still jailed. Until Friday, as many as 1,500 political prisoners were believed to be behind bars, by some counts, and the exact tally of those released on Friday will likely take several days. Suu Kyi's party said it was expecting the release of many of the 600 dissidents it tracks. “The release of such a large number of political prisoners demonstrates the government's will to solve political problems through political means,” said Win Tin, a senior member of Suu Kyi's party who previously spent 19 years in prison but was released under a 2008 amnesty. Among the high-profile inmates released were Min Ko Naing, a nearly legendary student leader from Myanmar's failed 1988 pro-democracy uprising. Applause outside prison Cheers and applause erupted outside the Thayet Prison, 545 kilometers (345 miles) north of Yangon, where a huge crowd gathered to see the charismatic activist. Min Ko Naing, leader of the “88 Generation Students Group,” was serving a 65-year prison sentence. His most recent arrest came in August 2007 along with 14 other student leaders at a protest against fuel price increases that preceded the monk-led Saffron Revolution, which was violently suppressed. Activists arrested after the abortive 2007 Saffron Revolution - named for the color of the robes worn by the country's Buddhist monks -- were also freed. Among them were Shin Gambira, 32, a militant monk who helped lead the anti-government protests. Family members said he told them he was in good health. Also freed was ethnic leader Khun Tun Oo, the chairman of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, who was serving a 93-year sentence. He was arrested along with several other Shan leaders in February 2005 and charged with treason. Traditional Shan music blasted from speakers outside Khun Tun Oo's family home in Yangon, where a crowd danced as they awaited his return. The government recently signed a preliminary cease-fire agreement with Shan rebels, among several other pacts to end ethnic fighting. The Shan Herald Agency for News, an online news site close to the rebels, said five or six Shan political prisoners were freed on Friday. Jailed former Prime Minister Khin Nyunt also was freed. He was ousted in 2004 after falling out of favor with the junta and convicted a year later of insubordination and corruption and sentenced to 44 years under house arrest. “The democratic process is on the right track,” the 73-year-old Khin Nyunt told reporters in Yangon, saying he did not plan to return to politics. The United States, members of the European Union and Canada are among nations that have imposed sanctions on Myanmar. The US and Britain have previously said they would remain in place until more political prisoners are released. http://www.todayszaman.com/news-268482-myanmar-set-many-political-prisoners-free.html -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------------------------------------- Myanmar frees prominent political prisoners Published: 9:11 am, Updated: 9:22 am YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar freed many of its most prominent political prisoners Friday in a long-awaited step toward national reconciliation that also has been a key condition set by Western nations for easing sanctions against the country. The releases of several political activists and ethnic minority leaders, confirmed by their relatives, were part of a presidential pardon for 651 detainees who Myanmar state radio and television said would take part in "nation-building." It was the latest in a flurry of reforms by the new, nominally civilian government as it seeks international legitimacy after years of military repression. The government also has launched a dialogue with pro-democracy leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, and on Thursday signed a cease-fire in a decades-long insurgency by ethnic Karen rebels — both key conditions for better ties with the West. The prisoner releases appeared to have gone most, if not all, of the way toward meeting demands by Western nations such as the United States and Britain for a broad political amnesty, and will put strong pressure on the West to lift sanctions soon. However, the number of political prisoners who may still remain behind bars will likely take several days to account for, especially since different groups maintain different lists of such detainees. Those freed Friday included Min Ko Naing, a nearly legendary student leader from Myanmar's failed 1988 pro-democracy uprising. Witnesses said the charismatic activist was greeted by a huge crowd as he came out of the jail in Thayet, 345 miles north of Yangon. Min Ko Naing, who has now served two long prison terms, was wearing the traditional garb he favored as an activist: a short peach-colored jacket over a black-checked sarong. Also freed was ethnic leader Khun Tun Oo, the chairman of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, who was serving a 93-year sentence. He was arrested along with several other Shan leaders in February 2005, and charged with high treason and other offenses after government accused him of launching movements to disintegrate national unity. The new government that took office after November 2010 elections replaced a military junta with a government that remains strongly linked to the military. However, the new government has embarked on reforms to try to end Myanmar's international isolation and win a lifting of political and economic sanctions imposed on the previous junta because of its repressive policies. Recent reforms also include the legalization of labor unions, and increases in press freedom. Several previous mass amnesties for convicts had resulted in the release of more than 200 political detainees, but had met with disappointment because many high-profile prisoners were still kept behind bars. http://www.13wham.com/news/world/story/Myanmar-frees-prominent-political-prisoners/krm4aQYzTEeL9MEhELf--g.cspx?rss=105 -------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Myanmar frees many prominent political prisoners Published on Fri, Jan 13, 2012 at 17:32 | Source : PTI Updated at Fri, Jan 13, 2012 at 17:54 Yangon, Jan 13 (AP) Myanmar freed some of its most famous political inmates today, sparking jubilation outside prison gates while signaling its readiness to comply with demands of the US and its allies for a lifting of economic sanctions. Among those released were prominent political activists, the leaders of brutally repressed democratic uprisings, a former prime minister, ethnic minority leaders, journalists and relatives of the former dictator Ne Win. The releases were part of a presidential pardon for 651 detainees that state radio and television said would take part in "nation-building." It was the latest in a flurry of accelerating changes in Myanmar sought by the West, including the recent launching of a dialogue with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Thursday's signing of a cease-fire in a long-running campaign against Karen insurgents. Myanmar likely now feels the ball is the West's court to lift the crippling economic measures. But the United States and allies may take a wait-and-see approach, to see if government truces with various ethnic rebel groups hold, discussions with Suu Kyi move forward and scheduled April elections appear free and fair. "I think we are close to the removal of Western sanctions," said Monique Skidmore, a Myanmar expert at the University of Canberra, adding that the US and others might first wait to see Aung San Suu Kyi take a seat in parliament. "There's a sense that there's still more to go before the sanctions will be removed." Human Rights Watch called Friday's release "a crucial development" in promoting human rights in Myanmar but stressed that an unknown number of political prisoners still remain detained. (AP) http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/wire-news/myanmar-frees-many-prominent-political-prisoners_650687.html ------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sen. McConnell to go to Burma, meet Aung San Suu Kyi By James R. Carroll, The (Louisville, Ky.) Courier-Journal WASHINGTON – Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is traveling to Burma for his first face-to-face meeting with pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, whose cause he has championed for nearly two decades. McConnell is visiting the Southeast Asian nation, also known as Myanmar, as its longtime military regime has taken steps to ease repression and institute reforms. He will be the first congressional leader to visit Burma. This week, Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest for years, announced that she and her party would participate in Burma's April by-elections for parliament. "It's exciting," McConnell said in an exclusive interview in his U.S. Capitol office as he prepared for a 90-minute meeting with Suu Kyi on Monday (Sunday night in the U.S.) at her home in Rangoon. The Senate's top Republican said he also is scheduled to meet with Burmese government officials and hopes to meet with President Thein Sein. "Candidly, I never really thought there was much chance that things were going to change" in Burma, McConnell said. But there clearly is a reform faction in the Burmese military, he said, "and we are pulling for that faction to continue to prevail." McConnell said he has consulted with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton regarding Burma. In December, she became the first American official to visit the nation in a half century. "The attitude of this government — and I'm going to make it clear that that's true on a bipartisan basis — is that as these various steps are taken, we will evaluate them one at a time in terms of their significance and respond accordingly down the road with actions on our part," McConnell said. He said he hoped that the U.S. could have an ambassador in Burma in the "not too distant future" and might consider eliminating sanctions "at some point." Burma has been ruled by the military since 1962 and has been considered a major human-rights violator. Opponents have been imprisoned, raped and killed, while ethnic minorities have been persecuted. The country also has been in economic shambles. The country's military regime wants the nation to be known as Myanmar. McConnell's visit is very important, said Jennifer Quigley, advocacy director with the U.S. Campaign for Burma. "McConnell has been the leader here in the U.S. on Burma for the last 20 years, and he will be able to sit down at the table with Suu Kyi and go over (the reforms under way) … and to see what is the best way to encourage and promote this nascent reform as she sees it and make sure we don't have a backslide," Quigley said. Suu Kyi was elected the nation's leader in 1990 but was never allowed to take office. Instead, her National League for Democracy was suppressed, some members killed, and Suu Kyi subjected to the first of many detentions. Crackdowns on mass demonstrations in 1988, resulting in more than 3,000 deaths, sparked McConnell's interest in Burma and Suu Kyi. McConnell first co-sponsored a resolution urging sanctions against the junta in Rangoon in 1993. Congress first adopted some sanctions three years later. Over the years McConnell also sponsored Senate provisions calling on the regime to release Suu Kyi, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 "for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights." She was released from 15 years of house arrest in November 2010. In March 2011, Sein, a former military official, became Myanmar's civilian president, and he has been instituting some reforms, including allowing more public discussion about the nation's problems and publication of divergent views. Dozens of political prisoners were freed in October, but the U.S. estimated that left about 1,000 still behind bars. The Rangoon government now says it will release 651 prisoners starting Friday, creating anticipation that political prisoners will be among them. McConnell has spoken by phone with Suu Kyi three times. Suu Kyi likes Sein "and believes he's a genuine reformer," McConnell said. When Clinton visited, she and Suu Kyi instantly connected, according to published reports. The pair held a news conference in which Clinton said she thought the Burmese government was making progress but needed to implement additional reforms. She also said Suu Kyi would be "an excellent member of the parliament." The U.S. also is providing $1.2 million in aid to Burma for small loans and health care. Earlier this week, Suu Kyi announced she has decided to run for a seat in the new parliament. The government approved the participation of Suu Kyi's party last week. http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2012-01-12/Mitch-McConnell-Burma-Myanmar-Aung-San-Suu-Kyi/52520544/1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------------------------------------- Min Ko Naing Calls for Peace in Ethnic Areas By WAI MOE Friday, January 13, 2012 Min Ko Naing, Burma's most prominent pro-democracy figure after Aung San Suu Kyi, has called for peace in ethnic minority areas and the release of all political prisoners. Speaking to The Irrawaddy shortly after his release from a 65 year prison term on Friday, he said, "I am very concerned about achieving peace in ethnic areas because when I hear the news about the armed conflicts, particularly in Kachin State, it makes me very uncomfortable." The leader of the 88 Generation Students group, who was released from prison along with 650 other political dissidents on Friday, continued: "That's why we need peace across the country immediately. Then we can work toward building national reconciliation." Min Ko Naing said that achieving peace in Burma---including the ethnic areas---is one of the most important aims of the 88 Generation Students group. "There must be no political dissidents in Burma's prisons!" he said by telephone from Aung Lan Township in Magway Division where he was en route by car to his hometown Rangoon. He said that although he and other many dissidents were released on Friday, there are still many political prisoners behind bars. "In Tayet Prison alone---where I was incarcerated---there are still political prisoners, some who are related to ethnic armed groups and others who were arrested mistakenly," he said. "We don't know yet how many political prisoners are still in prisons across the country. There could be different opinions in the definition of political prisoners, but they were all arrested on political grounds." Asked about his role in a future Burma, Min Ko Naing said that he and his colleagues will work together with Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), toward achieving democratic reform and national reconciliation. "These past few years, we have had a policy to support the NLD," he said. "We have not changed our stance. I will discuss all matters with my colleagues soon---but we will definitely work with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD." According to Min Ko Naing, members of the 88 Generation Students group who were released on Friday and earlier will hold meetings in the coming days. "It is certain that we, the 88 group, will stand alongside the people of Burma just as we did before," he said. "We will reflect the people's voices and desires, and work on their behalf. Regarding President Thein Sein and his administration, Min Ko Naing said he does not want to make critical comments and will wait and see. However, he said, there existed some questionable elements under the current administration. "I don't want to make any critical comments or analysis based on just one person. I believe the government does at least have a collective leadership," he said. "We have to wait and see whether the president's decision is followed, because what we see now is that his troops don't always obey his orders." Since his release from prison on Friday morning , Min Ko Naing has been greeted by jubilant crowds in Tayet and Aung Lan. He said he feels that 'people power' is back and that he is positive about the time ahead. Min Ko Naing, literally meaning "Conqueror of Kings," has been well-known in Burma since the pro-democracy uprising in 1988 when he was the leader of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions. He was arrested in March 1989 a few months after the September 1988 military coup. He was imprisoned for 20 years and stayed behind bars until November 2004. He was arrested again with several 88 Generation colleagues in September 2006 and detained until January 2007. He and his colleagues were arrested again on August 21, 2007, following their peaceful protest against the government's fuel price hike that sparked the monk-led mass demonstrations in September 2007. http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=22845 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --------------------------------------- Burma Releases 651 Prominent Dissidents By Gianluca Mezzofiore: Subscribe to Gianluca's RSS feed January 13, 2012 2:02 PM GMT Human rights groups have welcomed the release of several prominent dissidents in a prisoner amnesty by Burma's authorities, but called for all remaining prisoners to be freed. Burma has released 651 high-profile activists under a presidential pardon in a bid to boost reforms needed to end the country's long-standing isolation in the international community. The issue was raised by Foreign Secretary William Hague during his recent visit to Burma and by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Burmese official radio and television have said the prisoners are being released so they can participate in nation-building. Among the activists freed were Mink Ko Naing, a student leader in a failed pro-democracy uprising in 1988, and former prime minister Khin Nyunt, who had been under house arrest since 2004. Nilar Thein, another member of Burma's 88 Generation Students, was also released. Thein told the BBC that she had been freed from Tharya Wadi prison: "I'm healthy and happy to be released and happy to see my baby," she said referring to her daughter who was born before her last period of imprisonment in 2008. "I was released today along with nine other political prisoners in Tharya Wadi prison but there are still 25 more left inside." While the prisoner amnesty is a significant step in Burma's efforts toward reform, Human Rights Watch wants the Burmese government to allow international independent monitors to account for all remaining political prisoners. "Years of international calls to release long-detained political prisoners seem to have pushed the government to finally do the right thing," said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The government should ensure that there are no obstacles to these activists participating in public life and upcoming elections." A military council has ruled the country for more than four decades, though a nominally civilian government was appointed last year and, as a result of the shift in sympathies, pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi was freed from house arrest. Suu Kyi, the general secretary of the National League for Democracy, said last week that "unless there is ethnic harmony it will be very difficult... to build up a strong democracy", the Guardian reported. http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/281382/20120113/burma-releases-several-prominent-dissidents.htm - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -------------------------------------- DVB journalists, freelancers and blogger freed under amnesty Published on Friday 13 January 2012. Reporters Without Borders and its partner organization, the Burma Media Association, hail the release of a number of journalists and bloggers under an amnesty announced today. Journalists working for the Burmese exile radio and TV station Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) have confirmed that five DVB journalists (Hla Hla Win, Ngwe Soe Lin, Win Maw, Sithu Zeya and his father U Zeya), two freelance journalists (Thant Zin Aung and Zaw Thet Htwe) and the blogger Nay Phone Latt are among those who have been released. "We are pleased to see the government continuing to advance in the right direction and we urge it to release all the other detained journalists and Internet users, including eight other DVB video-journalists. Once all the detainees have been freed, we hope the government will also address the need for reforms and the need to end censorship in Burma." According to DVB, today's amnesty was carried out under article 401 (1) of the code of criminal procedure, unlike previous amnesties, which were issued under article 204 de la constitution. This suggested that today's amnesty did not have the approval of the influential National Defence and Security Council, DVB said. The freelance journalist Thant Zin Aung and the blogger Nay Phone Latt were released from Hpa-an prison in Karen state. As regards the released DVB journalists, Win Maw was being held in Kyaukphyu prison in the western state of Arakan, Hla Hla Win was in Kathar prison in the north of the country, Sithu Zeya was in Henzada prison in the southwest, Ngwe Soe Lin was in Lashio prison in the northeast and U Zeya was in Hsipaw prison in the northeast. The freelance journalist Zaw Thet Htwe was released from Taunggyi prison. Myint Hlaing, a media assistant who had help Hla Hla Win on many occasions and was arrested with her in 2009, was also freed. After leaving prison today, Sithu Zeya said: "As for the president, I think he's pretty decent as he is [enacting reforms] under a lot of pressure. But also it depends a lot on the men behind him -- just one decent person won't make the change happen. We need all-inclusive cooperation from both sides to build a democratic system." The blogger and comedian Zarganar was freed from Myitkyina prison in the northern state of Kachin on 12 October under an earlier "general amnesty." Three other DVB journalists were released in late December. Reporters Without Borders continues to support DVB's "Free Burma VJ" campaign for the release of all of the DVB video-journalists arrested after covering the 2007 Saffron Revolution and the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis in 2008. Eight DVB journalists are still being held. Reporters Without Borders is also awaiting news about the blogger Kaung Myat Hlaing (also known as Nat Soe), who has been imprisoned since April 2010, and the following journalists: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Detained since 13 October 2009 - Nyi Nyi Tun - Kantarawaddy News Journal Detained since 18 June 2009 - Zaw Tun - freelance Detained since 15 February 2008 - U Sein Win Maung - Myanmar Nation Detained since 28 August 2007 - Win Saing - photo-journalist Detained since 9 June 2006 - Aung Than - poet Detained since 24 March 2006 - U Thaung Sein -- freelance photo-journalist Detained since 24 March 2006 - Ko Moe Htun - Dhamah-Yate Detained since February 2004 - Ne Min - freelance Detained since 17 February 1998 - Aung Htun – freelance - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://en.rsf.org/burma-dvb-journalists-freelancers-and-13-01-2012,41675.html