By Zin Linn
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

Nov.28, 2002 --  Colonel Hla Min, spokesperson of Burma's military regime, says  115 political prisoners were freed on 21 November 2002. The news also says it was the largest ever release of opposition detainees, and has served as a gesture of reconciliation to the pro-democracy movement.

The release followed a mission to the impoverished military reigned country by Razali Ismail, the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Myanmar, who visited Rangoon from 12th to 16th November for his ninth mission to facilitate the national reconciliation process in Burma.

U.N. special envoy Razali Ismail, who has voiced frustration at the junta's lack of movement towards political reform, said on November 16 that he had asked the generals to release a large number of prisoners of conscience as a sign of its commitment to reconciliation.

Following this, there was a statement by the junta to Reuters saying it will release 115 prisoners on 21st November.  The statement, dated 20th November, said that it was the largest ever release of political prisoners, and that many of them were from the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD).

"Because of the steady progress in national reconciliation, we continue to release more individuals who will cause no harm to the community nor threaten the existing peace, stability and unity of the nation," it said.

But a reliable source said only 59 political prisoners were released on that day. On 26th November, the NLD spokesman, U Lwin, made a call to Colonel Hla Min, military intelligence officer, asking about the difference in the number of individuals actually released with the number of individuals claimed by the junta to have been freed. According to U Lwin's confirmation, there were only 59 individuals actually released.  That number included 51 members of the NLD and 8 from other organizations.

U Lwin then requested a list of the names of all remaining prisoners. Col. Hla Min confessed that they released only 60 people while 55 more were on the waiting list and had not been freed as yet. He made no explanation as to why there was a difference between the official statement and the real numbers.

Prison sources in Rangoon have revealed that prisoners of conscience on the waiting list were refusing to accept and sign the text of Criminal Procedure Code 401(1).  This document is used as a pre-condition when releasing political prisoners as it allows for the authorities to immediately re-imprison former detainees if they are found continuing their involvement with banned political activities.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan welcomed Burma's release of political prisoners when Rangoon said a total of 115 would be freed. He expressed the hope that this first large-scale release will provide fresh momentum for the National Reconciliation process in Burma.

However, many diplomats and analysts have been highly critical of the International Community, claiming that they should carefully investigate as to whether the regime was deserving of honor for its insincerity.
__________________________________________________

(Criminal Procedure Code - 401 (1): "When any person has been sentenced to punishment for an offence, the appropriate Government may, at any time without conditions or upon any conditions which the person sentenced accepts, suspend the execution of his sentence or remit the whole or any part of the punishment to which he has been sentenced.)

Burma Today do not take any responsibility for news content. Copyrights of news articles remain with the respective news agencies or reporter[s].

©2001-2002  Burma Today All Right Reserved  Graphic Design : burmatoday2002@yahoo.com