Only 24 out of 6300 released are political detainees
Feb 22nd, 2009
- report from Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)
Yesterday the ruling military regime announced that it would release 6,313 prisoners from 21 February.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) confirmed that very few political prisoners, so far only 24 (9monks, 1 nun, 11 men & 3 women), have been released from Burma’s prisons.
Those released included National League for Democracy (NLD) Member of Parliament Dr Zaw Myint Maung, who spent almost 19 years in prison. Khin Khin Leah, who has been in prison since 1999, was also released. When the authorities were unable to locate and arrest her husband Kyaw Wanna for his role in planning a peaceful demonstration, they instead arrested his wife and daughter. Although her daughter was later released, Khin Khin Leah was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Daw Ponena Mee, the oldest nun in prison at the age of almost 80, was amongst those released. Others included U Thet Wai, who was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment for making a complaint to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) about labour rights violations, and U Tin Htay and U Than Htay, who were arrested for distributing DVDs of the lavish wedding of Senior General Than Shwe’s daughter. And 9 monks, who have been detained since 2003, were also released.
Tate Naing, Secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), said, “We cannot expect the political situation in Burma to improve just because a few political prisoners were released. This is just a ploy to try and ease international pressure. Actually Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo, ethnic nationality leaders, 88 Generation leaders and all other political prisoners must be released in order to make progress towards democracy and national reconciliation. We urge the international community to pressurise the SPDC more effectively for their release.”
The released are:
- Myintkyina prison
- Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, Member of Parliament from the National League for Democracy party. He has been in jail since 1991.
- U Pe Sein, Township organizer, Mohnyin, Kachin State
- U Naw Naw
- Insein prison
- U Kaythara (a) U Kyaw Min Thet
- U Ingura (a) U Aye Tun Thar
- U Thireina (a) U Kyaw Moe
- U Marlaina (a) U Min Zaw Aung
- U Ardatesa (a) U Aung Ko
- U Takekanateya (a) U Maung Zaw
- U Damitika (a) U Tun Tun
- U Tun Zaw Htay (a) Tun Tun
- U Khaing Ba Myint
- U Soe
- U Nandathiri (a) U Htay Ye Tun
- U Sandima (a) U Zaw Min Htet
- Ma Hmwe (a) Ma Kyin Haw
- Ma Khin Khin Leah
- U Tin Hlaing
- U Thet Wai
- Ma Htay
- Daw Ponena Mee
- Kale Prison
- U Tin Htay
- U Than Htay
- Four Mile Labour Camp, Taungoo
- Zaw Naing Htwe aka Ket Net