Political prisoners
September 28, 2011
Foreign Minister Wanna Maung Lwin has made the country's first address to the UN General Assembly since a nominally civilian government took power in Myanmar last year. Lwin emphasized that ever since a first amnesty was decreed by the military-backed President Thein Sein in May this year, about 20,000 inmates had been released.
Rights groups skeptical
The minister also highlighted a deal reached with some armed opposition ethnic groups in August and how a national human rights commission started work this month. He also appealed for the lifting of international sanctions. "The president, in exercising the mandate vested upon him by the constitution, will further grant an amnesty at an appropriate time in the near future," Lwin said.
Meanwhile, international human rights groups are skeptical of the changes in Myanmar and are calling for a UN-led international commission of inquiry into allegations of war crimes.
Elaine Pearson of Human Rights Watch believes, "Burma's foreign minister would be more convincing if the government released all political prisoners and held security forces accountable for the brutal suppression of monks and peaceful protesters exactly four years ago."
Myanmar's military crushed mass protests for democracy led by Buddhist monks in September 2007. Several dozen people were believed killed and many more were imprisoned.
No freedom of expression
Myanmar held its first elections in 20 years last year in November. The new government remains dominated by the military, which has ruled the country since 1962. Western nations are urging Myanmar to free its more than 2,000 political prisoners and reconcile with Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party won the elections in 1990, but was barred from taking power.
Suu Kyi has said she believes the president wants "positive" change in the country. On Monday, democracy activists in Yangon tested the new government's avowed tolerance for dissent by gathering peacefully to mark the protest anniversary. They were allowed to gather at a central landmark but were harassed in other parts of the city.
Author: Manasi Gopalakrishnan (AP, AFP)
Editor: Sarah Berning