The London-based human rights group – Amnesty International – in its statement Friday welcomed the recent release of 115 people by the Burmese government. However, it called for more releases of what it called 1,200 prisoners of conscience now remaining in various prisons in the country.
The statement says: “We welcome these releases but stress that they are long overdue, and must be followed by the unconditional release of other prisoners of conscience who have been suffering in Burmese prisons for too long.”
Those recently released are subject to serving the rest of their prison terms if they are arrested again. Therefore, Amnesty International calls on the ruling military to offer unconditional release and refrain from harassing prisoners after they are freed.
Amnesty cited prominent prisoners of conscience like journalist and National League for Democracy official U Win Tin, NLD senior advisor U Win Htein and the 1988 pro-democracy mass uprising star student leader Min Ko Naing in its statement.
This information is provided by AFP and Amnesty International Press Release.