US, UN welcome Burma prisoner release

Article from: Agence France-correspondents in Washington

September 24, 2008 05:05am
THE US today welcomed the release of Burma's longest serving political prisoner but said it would press for the freedom of all jailed dissidents.

"We hope it's a first step in a process," Robert Wood, a spokesman for the US State Department, said, adding it was "long overdue".



But while the move was a "positive step", it remained unclear if the release signalled a shift in Burma government's approach to dissent, he said.

The comments came after Burma's junta today released Win Tin, a 79-year-old journalist and prominent dissident, who had been behind the bars of Rangoon's feared Insein prison since 1989.

He was released along with a handful of other dissidents as part of an amnesty granted by the junta to more than 9000 inmates.

State media announced today the 9002 prisoners would be freed so they could take part in elections promised by the ruling generals for 2010. The move also comes on the one year anniversary of massive anti-junta protests.

Human rights groups estimate that about 2000 political prisoners are locked away in Burma, including the country's most prominent dissident, Aung San Suu Kyi of the National League for Democracy - who has been detained for most of the last 19 years.

Mr Wood said the United States wanted to see the release of Suu Kyi and all imprisoned dissidents.

"We continue to call for the release of political prisoners."

Also today, the United Nations independent human rights expert on Burma on welcomed as a "positive sign of cooperation" the release of political prisoners.

Myanmar overnight released its longest-serving political prisoner as part of an amnesty for more than 9000 inmates, but he immediately vowed to continue to fight the ruling generals.

Tomas Ojea Quintana, the special rapporteur on Burma appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, said six other veteran prisoners had also been released: May Win Myint, Aung Soe Myint, Khin Maung Swe, Win Htain, Than Nyein and Thein Naing.

The releases "marked a positive sign of cooperation from the Government of Myanmar," Quintana said.