Among the beneficiaries of the amnesty, at least 80 prisoners of conscience. The decree comes just days before President Thien Sein's trip to the UN in New York, where he is scheduled to meet with senior American officials. A move to strengthen the dialogue between Washington and Naypyidaw. But some voices critical of Burmese leadership’s "sincerity".

Yangon (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Burmese government yesterday issued an amnesty for more than 500 prisoners, among them dozens of political prisoners - 80 according to some sources - although their names have not yet been made public. The presidential decree comes amid a visit by Aung San Suu Kyi to the United States (see AsiaNews 17/09/2012 Aung San Suu Kyi in the US to discuss reforms, sanctions and the fate of the Rohingya) and a few weeks ahead of Thein Sein's trip to New York, scheduled for September 24 to participate (for the first time ever) as head of state at the General Assembly of the United Nations. According to experts, it is a move that could strengthen the ties between Washington and Naypyidaw - in New York there will be a meeting between senior U.S. officials and the president of Burma - even if there are critical voices regarding the "sincerity" of the Burmese leadership's intentions.

The news of the amnesty was issued yesterday by state television, which has not yet clarified the identity of the prisoners and the offenses for which they had been previously convicted. Two activist groups say that at least 80 political prisoners will be released, though - officially - in the country the category of "prisoners of conscience" does not exist. Other sources report that the number could be even higher.

Ba Myo Thein, from the Freedom of Political Prisoners movement, said the dissidents who will benefit from the amnesty are 84, including some Buddhist monks. Ko Ko Gyi, a former prisoner and leader of the 88 Generation student group, expects the release of "at least 100" political prisoners. Tate Naing, Secretary of AAPP, an association that fights for the rights of prisoners of conscience in Myanmar, welcomed the decision but warned: "If this is related to the trip [Thein Sein] in the United States it is not a good reason ".

Phil Robertson, deputy director for Asia at Human Rights Watch (HRW), says that although "in principle" the new amnesty "is welcome," "the list" needed to be checked to see how many political prisoners will benefit from the measure. He recalls the "lack of transparency" of the Burmese government on the names and the number of prisoners of conscience. Meanwhile, the humanitarian association renews its appeal to the leadership of the country, to free all political prisoners still in jail, between 300 and 500 according to the latest estimates.

Meanwhile in Washington, the U.S. State Department has reacted cautiously to the news of the new amnesty decreed by Thein Sein, the latest in a series of measures taken by the head of state in an attempt to encourage economic, political and social reform in Myanmar. The U.S. government will continue to follow the evolution of events closely to see if the release of prisoners is confirmed, perhaps a decisive step for the complete removal of U.S. sanctions on Burma.

 

 

• myanmar
• Thein
• Sein
• amnesty
• political
• prisoners
• US
• UN
• trip