Burma releases political prisoners

Posted July 03, 2012 20:57:27
Political prisoners in Burmese jail Photo: Burma has released more political prisoners in a move to promote national reconciliation. (REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun)
Map: Burma
A group of student activists who protested against military rule, more than two decades ago, were among a group of political prisoners released from jail in Burma today.
Burma has agreed to release 46 prisoners in an effort to promote national reconciliation.
Twenty of the political prisoners were from 88 Generation Students Group, which played a key part in a 1988 uprising against the former junta.
Some of the activists were serving up to 60 years in jail on charges which included violating the emergency act and illegally printing and distributing leaflets.
Burma freed more than 300 political prisoners in January, a move which prompted the United States to move to make an undertaking to restore full diplomatic ties. About 200 others were let out in October 2011.
The move comes shortly after a Burmese minister pledged further amnesties for jailed dissidents during a high profile European tour by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi last month.
Aung San Suu Kyi used her long-awaited acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway last month to call for the release of Burma's remaining political prisoners, warning of the risk that unknown political prisoners could be forgotten.
According to 88 Generation, Aye Aung was amongst the prisoners released who is considered by Amnesty International to be a 'prisoner of conscience'.
He was arrested in 1998 and sentenced to 59 years, later reduced to 29 years, on charges including violating the emergency act as well as illegally printing and distributing leaflets.
Burma has announced a series of reforms since a controversial 2010 election brought a civilian government to power, albeit one with close links to the military.
Changes, including dissident releases and the welcoming of Suu Kyi and her party into the political mainstream, have led to tough western sanctions being loosened.