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Amnesty unlikely to include many political prisoners
Irrawaddy - May 3, 2011
Ko Htwe – Burma's new military-backed government is reportedly planning to grant an amnesty to prisoners to coincide with President Thein Sein's visit to Indonesia this week to attend a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), but it is unlikely that many political prisoners will be among those released, a leading prisoners' rights group said.
Ex-Gen Thein Sein, who formerly served as Burma's prime minister, will travel overseas for the first time in his new role during the five-day summit that starts on May 4. According to an official who spoke to the AFP news agency, "Some prisoners will be released around the time of the president's first state visit."
The decision to release an unspecified number of prisoners is likely an attempt to bolster the new regime's international standing at a time when it is seeking to assume the Asean chair in 2014, said observers.
Tate Naing, the secretary of the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners-Burma (AAPP), said the move reflected continuing criticism of the new Burmese government, which despite its ostensible transition to civilian rule is still led by senior military figures from the old regime.
"The release may include a handful of political prisoners, but not many," said Tate Naing. "They definitely won't release any political prisoners who can challenge the military's hold on power."
According to AAPP, there are 2,073 political prisoners being held in prisons across the country. Their release has long been a key demand of political opposition groups and foreign governments calling for democratic reforms.
Recently, some 324 journalists, writers and artists collectively signed a petition calling for the release of all political prisoners and sent it to Burmese President Thein Sein.
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