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250 political prisoners expected to be freed

Irrawaddy - September 18, 2009

Saw Yan Naing – Burma's ruling military junta is expected to pardon a total of 250 political detainees as part of an amnesty of 7,114 prisoners, according to official and unofficial sources.

On Friday, Burmese authorities released an estimated 600 inmates, including 43 political prisoners.

The amnesty comes three days before Burmese Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein travels to New York to attend the UN General Assembly next week.

Forty-three political prisoners were released on Friday, including two journalists, one Buddhist monk and members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) (AAPP).

A high-ranking official at Rangoon's Insein Prison said a total of 250 political prisoners will be released. No dates or any further details were given.

Rangoon sources said that political prisoners released today included two journalists, identified as Ein Khaing Oo and Kyaw Kyaw Thant.

Ein Khaing Oo, 24, a journalist for the Rangoon-based weekly Ecovision, was arrested in June 2008 after writing about a protest launched by about 20 cyclone survivors in front of the UN Development Program's office in Rangoon's Tamwe Township. She received a two-year prison sentence.

Kyaw Kyaw Thant is a freelance journalist who was arrested along with Ein Khaing Oo while documenting the cyclone survivors' demonstration. He received a seven-year prison term.

Prominent dissident U Nine Nine, an NLD member who was elected as a member of parliament for Rangoon's Pazundaung Township in 1990, was also pardoned, according to the AAPP.

The monk was identified as Ashin Sandaw Batha.

The AAPP list of other freed political prisoners received by The Irrawaddy include Nyi Nyi Min, Tin Mya, Monywar Aung Shin (a) Aung Myint, Tin Tin Myint, Than Than Htay, Than Than Sint, Thin Min Soe, Kyi Kyi Min, Zaw Htut Aung, Tin Myo Htut (a) Kyaw Oo, Win Myint, Kyaw Maung, Nay Win, Kyi Lin, Soe Wai (a) Than Zaw and Aung Gyi.

The identity of the political prisoners freed today could not be confirmed with the authorities.

"In building a new nation, the government sentenced those who violated the existing laws to prison terms in accord with the law to ensure stability and prevalence of law and order," according to an article in the state-run newspaper The New Light of Myanmar on Friday.

"However, plans are being made for those serving prison terms to turn them into citizens to be able to participate in building a new nation," the article said.

Bo Kyi, the AAPP joint secretary, said that he believed the regime only released the prisoners with the aim of easing international pressure and sanctions. He noted that key opposition leaders such as Aung San Suu Kyi, Min Ko Naing and ethnic Shan leader Khun Htun Oo remain in detention.

He also added that despite the amnesty, pressure on dissidents has continued.

On Wednesday, eight democracy activists, including one Buddhist monk, were detained in Myingyan Township in Mandalay by Burmese military authorities. On Thursday, four monks in Myingyan Township were arrested.

Sources observed that the amnesty appeared to be linked to Prime Minister Thein Sein's attendance at the UN General Assembly. Freed prisoners were mostly serving the last year of their sentence, sources said.

New York-based Human Rights Watch urged the release of Burmese political prisoners on Wednesday, accusing the regime of doubling the number of political prisoners to 2,250 since it cracked down on pro-democracy protests in September 2007.

Scot Marciel, the US administration's top diplomat for Southeast Asia, said that a US policy review on Burma will seek new ways to free political prisoners.

A review of policy towards Burma is to be concluded "very soon" but would not alter US goals of improving human rights, winning freedom for political prisoners and seeking a transition to a democratic government, Marciel said.

In September 2008, the Burmese regime pardoned 9,002 prisoners. Nine political prisoners were among those freed. In February 2009, the regime pardoned more than 6,000 prisoners. Thirty-one were political prisoners.

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