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Financial Times October 12, 2011 Burma Begins to Free Political Prisoners by Amy Kazmin in New Delhi and Ben Bland in Hanoi Burm

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Financial Times October 12, 2011 Burma Begins to Free Political Prisoners by Amy Kazmin in New Delhi and Ben Bland in Hanoi Burm Financial Times October 12, 2011 Burma begins to free political prisoners By Amy Kazmin in New Delhi and Ben Bland in Hanoi Burma’s government has freed numerous political dissidents, signalling its desire for reform after years of direct military rule. The extent of the prisoner release was still unclear on Wednesday evening, as opposition activists were trying to compile lists of dissidents freed from some of the country’s 43 prisons, scattered in remote locations around the country. Prison officials told Burmese journalists that 300 “prisoners of conscience” had been freed. Activists said they had confirmed the release of more than 180 dissidents, including Buddhist monks, opposition politicians, ethnic minority activists, a popular satirist Zarganar and Su Su Nway, a campaigner against forced labour. But with up to 1,500 political prisoners – including some high-profile political activists – still incarcerated, Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Prize-winning democracy advocate, was cautious in her response. “I’m really thankful for the release of political prisoners,” Ms Suu Kyi said as details trickled out. “We hope many more will be released. The more political prisoners are released, the better for the country.” High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email [email protected] to buy additional rights. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9e7affae-f493-11e0-a286- 00144feab49a.html#ixzz1aeHfk7X4 Burmese officials said last month they would free a significant number of political prisoners, as they press for an end to sanctions that have helped cripple the south-east Asian nation’s economy. In recent weeks President Thein Sein has taken steps indicating an apparent desire to relax the repressive policies of the past. He has met Ms Suu Kyi, invited Burmese exiles to return, eased some media restrictions and suspended a $3.6bn Chinese- backed dam project that had drawn environmentalists’ ire. High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email [email protected] to buy additional rights. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9e7affae-f493-11e0-a286- 00144feab49a.html#ixzz1aeHiamtO However, the US and European Union have made clear that the release of political prisoners – numbered at 1,000-2,000 – is a precondition for any relaxation of sanctions. Cathy Ashton, the EU’s foreign policy chief, on Wednesday issued a statement welcoming the release, adding that it was “one among a number of steps the authorities have taken recently that help to make promises of reform more credible. But, we need to see the full picture first.” Amnesty International and other Burma campaign groups expressed disappointment on Wednesday that more dissident were not released. However, diplomats and analysts expect further releases in coming weeks. “They know political prisoners have to be released to get back on normal terms with the west, especially if you want to bring economic development and change,” Aung Naing Oo, a Burmese analyst based in Thailand, said of the administration. “But they will do [it] in their own time, when they feel comfortable.” Star political prisoners There is no definitive number for those detained in Burma on political charges but estimates range from 1,000 to 2,100. The government is expected to stagger the release of such detainees over the coming weeks with observers watching closely for both the number of those released and their identities to measure how serious a move this is by the government. Zarganar – A popular film actor and satirical comedian, Zarganar used his fame and popularity to help organise food, mosquito nets, clothing, medicine and other relief supplies for the victims of Burma’s devastating 2008 Cyclone Nargis, which left about 140,000 people dead and destroyed 800,000 homes. He was highly critical of the government’s response to the disaster, giving interviews to Burmese and international media, denouncing the regime’s inadequate relief efforts and speaking eloquently about the physical hardships and psychological trauma of the survivors. He was arrested in June 2008, about a month after the disaster. Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Htay Kywe, Nilar Thein and Phone Cho – University students during the dramatic 1988 mass uprising against long-time dictator Gen Ne Win, these committed political activists mostly spent more than a decade each in prison – including many years in solitary confinement – for their involvement in the large-scale protests of that era. Released mostly in the last decade, they began small marches against a sharp 2007 increase in fuel prices, protests that escalated into the dramatic Burmese Monks Uprising, sometimes known as the “Saffron Revolution.” Most of the 88 Generation Students were re-arrested before the protests really gained momentum, though Htay Kwye , was on the run, hiding underground for weeks, using his charisma to give interviews on widely-followed exile-based radio stations and urging citizens to support the monks’ uprising. Nilar Thein was on the run for several weeks, hiding with her young baby until she was arrested. The 88 Generation Student leaders were mostly sentenced to 65 years in prison. Su Su Nway – A loyalist member of the National League for Democracy, Su Su Nway has been in and out of prison over the years. She has been involved in pressing charges over forced labour, through the International Labour Organisation, and organising care for people living with HIV/Aids in Buddhist monasteries. She joined the 1988 student protests against the fuel price hikes. Khun Tun Oo, General Hsal Tin – Top leaders of the Shan National League for Democracy, which represents the Shan ethnic minority and has had close ties with Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy. Burmese Monks – U Gambira, one of the charismatic monks who helped lead the Burmese uprising in 2007. More than 200 monks, who were key organisers of the protests, were imprisoned after the uprising. Journalists – Around 27 journalists have been in prison. They are mainly video journalists who were associated with the Norway-based Democratic Voice of Burma and involved in recording, and sending out images, of the 2007 Burmese monks uprising, helping the events to be seen around the world on international channels such as CNN and BBC. .
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