Join our mailing list for latest news and information about Burma.
Statement by the Spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative on the Release of Political Prisoners in Burma/Myanmar
By European Union • October 12, 2011The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement:
“We welcome the decision of the President of Myanmar (Burma) to grant an amnesty to a significant number of prisoners. We are pleased to learn that a number of political prisoners are included in this amnesty and have been set free. Their release is a sign that the new Government is committed to honouring the promise of the President to respect the rule of law and to safeguard fundamental freedoms. It is 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. The EU continues to advocate the unconditional release of all political prisoners and encourages the Government of Myanmar to continue this process of positive change. In this context, the EU reconfirms the essential importance of a genuine process of dialogue and national reconciliation for a transition to democracy.”
This post is in: Press Release
Related PostsEuropean Union: Council Conclusions on EU strategy with Myanmar/Burma
EU deploys Election Observation Mission to Myanmar
Joint Statement-Criminal Atrocities Increased Against Rohingya for Rejecting Green Card
Myanmar/Burma: Sustained EU Engagement at UN Critical to Support Human Rights Reforms
Reform of the Police and the Judiciary is a Matter of Urgency
All posts