New Delhi (Mizzima) – According to the NLD, so far 36 political prisoners–19 of them NLD members–have been released from prisons across the country under a general commutation ordered by Burmese President Thein Sein, according to the information received by Mizzima.
The political prisoners were included in a general amnesty after the new government issued an order that all prisoners’ sentences should be reduced by one year.
Nineteen of the 36 political prisoners are members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and they were released from Insein, Paungde, Kawthaung, Hpaan and Myitkyina prisons, according to NLD spokesman Ohn Kyaing. The list was compiled by NLD headquarters in Rangoon before 7 p.m. Tuesday based on information reported by NLD members across the country.
The political prisoners were included in a general amnesty after the new government issued an order that all prisoners’ sentences should be reduced by one year.
Nineteen of the 36 political prisoners are members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and they were released from Insein, Paungde, Kawthaung, Hpaan and Myitkyina prisons, according to NLD spokesman Ohn Kyaing. The list was compiled by NLD headquarters in Rangoon before 7 p.m. Tuesday based on information reported by NLD members across the country.
Seventeen newly released political prisoners are Kyaw Win Tun (Bahan Township), Aung Aung Oo (Bahan), Myint Tun (Shwepyitha), Htwe Thein (Shwepyitha), Nyi Nyi San (aka) Ashin Sandardika (Khayan), Myint Soe (Twante), Ye Htut Khaung (Twante), Win Myint (Tamwe), Mya San Htoo (South Dagon), Than Htay (Dawpon), Khin Tun (Thaketa), Thein Swe (Kamayut), hip hop singer Zay Yar Thaw, Tun Tun Naing, Kyaw San Linn, Soe myint Htein and Thein Swe, according to information compiled by lawyer Aung Thein, who has volunteered to give legal advice to political prisoners. They were released from Insein, Bhamo, Mawlamyaing, Taunggyi, Sittwe and Kawthaung prisons.
In accordance with the commutation, more than 14,600 prisoners will be released from 42 prisons across the country, Zaw Win, the director general of the Insein Prison Department, told reporters on Tuesday morning. About 2,500 prisoners will be released from Insein Prison, he said.
Amnesty International said in a statement on Tuesday that the presidential commutations did not go far enough.
Benjamin Zawacki, Amnesty International's Burma affairs researcher, said in a statement, ‘While the presidential commutations are welcome news, they are not sufficient. These actions fall well short of the comprehensive release of all prisoners of conscience desperately needed in Burma’.
Amnesty International also urged Burma to abolish the death penalty.
The Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners-Burma (AAPP-B) has called on the international community to put the Burmese government under more pressure to order the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners.
Before the most recent release, there were 2,061 political prisoners in Burma, according to information compiled by AAPP-B.
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