Political Prisoner Release is a Significant Step, Thein Sein’s Government Must Take More

Burma Partnership welcomes the release of political prisoners today, in what has been one of the most significant moves made so far by President Thein Sein. This is a crucial step towards greater democracy in Burma and we hope that Thein Sein’s government will continue to make substantive changes […]

CSW Welcomes “Significant and Positive” Prisoner Releases

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) today welcomed the release of several high-profile political prisoners in Burma, including Min Ko Naing and Ko Mya Aye, leaders of the failed pro-democracy uprising in 1988, and continued to call for the unconditional release of all remaining political prisoners […]

Political Prisoners Released: Allow International Monitors to Account for All Remaining Detainees

The release of key political prisoners on January 13, 2012 is a crucial development in promoting respect for human rights in Burma, but all remaining political prisoners should be freed immediately and unconditionally, Human Rights Watch said today […]

Burma Campaign UK Welcomes Political Prisoner Release

Burma Campaign UK today welcomed the release of a significant number of political prisoners, including members of the 88 Generation Students and journalists from the Democratic Voice of Burma, but also cautioned the international community not to forget those political prisoners still left behind in Burma’s jails […]

Release of Political Prisoners in Burma Welcomed, Remaining Ones Should Be Released

Today the U.S. Campaign for Burma (USCB) confirmed that more than two hundred political prisoners were released today in Burma, including the country’s second most prominent democracy activist Min Ko Naing and Saffron Revolution monk leader U Gambira. They were released according to a conditional amnesty announced by the Burmese regime on January 12, 2012 […]

Statement by the President on the Release of Burmese Political Prisoners

President Thein Sein’s decision to release hundreds of prisoners of conscience is a substantial step forward for democratic reform […]

Alleged Amnesty is Highly Limited in Nature and Amounts to a Paltry Reduction of Harsh Prison Terms

On 2 January, President U Thein Sein of the Union Solidarity Development Party signed amnesty order 1/2012, authorizing a commutation of death sentences to life and a reduction in prison terms. Those prisoners serving more than 30 year sentences […]

Prominent Burmese Activist Birthday in Prison

“Dear Mr. President, release him as a birthday gift”, Zarganar, famous Burmese comedian, made the call at Min Ko Naing’s birthday event in Rangoon on Oct. 18, attended by hundreds of colleagues and friends including Burmese democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi […]

Released Political Prisoners Reaffirm Their Commitment to Working for Human Rights and National Reconciliation in Burma

On 12 October, the regime released 6,359 prisoners from prisons across the country. However, the amnesty included only 220 political prisoners, leaving as many as 1,800 behind bars. The international community overwhelmingly responded by urging the regime to release the remaining political prisoners, including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burma, Tomás Ojea Quintana.

Burmese language media and blogs carried many moving interviews with political prisoners who were released, in which they spoke about detention conditions, the disappointing number of political prisoners released and how they would continue to work to improve the situation of human rights and democracy in Burma […]

Burma Political Prisoner Releases Not Enough To Justify Lifting of Sanctions

The European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma (EPCB) welcomes the release of around 200 political prisoners in Burma. The release of all political prisoners, along with the implementation of a nationwide ceasefire, are essential first steps in creating a climate in which there can be a genuine […]