Hundreds of political prisoners released in Burma amnesty
Move could pave the way for the West to lift sanctions on new civilian government
BURMA has released hundreds of political prisoners in a move that paves the way for European Union sanctions to be lifted in April as the country takes another step away from international isolation and towards "national reconciliation".
The 651 detainees have been freed to take part in what state media described as "nation building". The move comes a day after a ceasefire was signed between the government and Karen rebels (above) which brings an end to the world's longest-running insurgency.
Among those to be freed were Min Ko Naing, who had been in jail since 1989 following a failed pro-democracy uprising. Large crowds were said to have greeted him when he left prison in Thayet, 345 miles north of Rangoon.
Leaders of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, which represents the Shan ethnic minority, were also freed. The movement's leader Khun Tun Oo had been serving a 93-year sentence for high treason.
The Independent described the move as "the latest in a flurry of reforms by the new, nominally civilian government as it seeks international legitimacy after years of military repression".
Last year the pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was freed from house arrest and her party announced that it would contest elections.
The West has also been lobbying hard for reforms in Burma. The Guardian reports: "The issue [of political prisoners] was raised repeatedly by William Hague, the British foreign secretary, during a visit to Burma last week and by Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, during her visit in December."
It is unclear how many political detainees remain behind bars, but there could be more than 1,000.
The Times reports that the actions of the new civilian government since it came to power have transformed the mood in Rangoon. But it notes that the latest release may have been the work of the president alone. "Ominously, this may indicate opposition to the president’s reforms from within the highest ranks of the government," says the paper. ·
