US urges SPDC to release all political prisoners

DVB ( 26 November 2003 )

The US government is calling on Burma's military government, the SPDC to release all of its political prisoners, now that five elderly leaders of NLD have been freed.

A State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher, told reporters on 24 November that Washington hopes the release of the five will be followed up immediately by the unconditional freeing of all other political prisoners.

The SPDC lifted restrictions on U Nyunt Wei, U Than Tun, U Soe Myint, U Hla Pe and U Loon Tin. The five are on the nine-member NLD’s central executive committee who had been in detention since May 30 Dipeyin assault in northern Burma.

The SPDC has given no indication as to when the others, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will be set free. U.S. officials say that national reconciliation in Burma depends on the full _expression and participation of representatives of the democratic opposition and ethnic minorities.

Diplomats in Rangoon went to see the five on 25 November and they are to issue an official statement on NLD’s views on the current situation in Burma on the following day.