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Myanmar to Free Political Prisoners, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Says Myanmar to Free Political Prisoners, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Says
(about 5 hours later)
MANDALAY, Myanmar — Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, in her first act as Myanmar’s state counselor, said Thursday that she would seek to free political prisoners, including students, describing the issue as the top priority of her party’s new government.MANDALAY, Myanmar — Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, in her first act as Myanmar’s state counselor, said Thursday that she would seek to free political prisoners, including students, describing the issue as the top priority of her party’s new government.
Myanmar is holding more than 500 people who are considered political prisoners, most of whom have not faced trial. It was unclear how many students Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi was referring to, but dozens of students are facing trial for participating in protests.Myanmar is holding more than 500 people who are considered political prisoners, most of whom have not faced trial. It was unclear how many students Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi was referring to, but dozens of students are facing trial for participating in protests.
She said that next week, when the country celebrates the start of the Burmese New Year, would be an appropriate time to release political prisoners. She did not say how many she hopes to free. She said that next week, when the country celebrates the start of the Burmese New Year, would be an appropriate time to release political prisoners. She did not say how many she hoped to free.
“In this time of the Burmese New Year, we will release political prisoners and activists and students who are facing charges as soon as possible,” she said in a statement released by her office.“In this time of the Burmese New Year, we will release political prisoners and activists and students who are facing charges as soon as possible,” she said in a statement released by her office.
Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former political prisoner who spent 15 years under house arrest, took on the newly created post of state counselor this week in a move to get around a ban on her serving as the country’s president.Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former political prisoner who spent 15 years under house arrest, took on the newly created post of state counselor this week in a move to get around a ban on her serving as the country’s president.
The military, which drafted Myanmar’s Constitution, included a provision barring anyone from serving as president who has family members with foreign citizenship. Her children are British citizens, as was her husband.The military, which drafted Myanmar’s Constitution, included a provision barring anyone from serving as president who has family members with foreign citizenship. Her children are British citizens, as was her husband.
She said during last year’s campaign that she would serve “above” the president if voters chose her party, the National League for Democracy. Her party won by a landslide in November and holds large majorities in both houses of Parliament. She named her close ally, U Htin Kyaw, to serve as president.She said during last year’s campaign that she would serve “above” the president if voters chose her party, the National League for Democracy. Her party won by a landslide in November and holds large majorities in both houses of Parliament. She named her close ally, U Htin Kyaw, to serve as president.
Most of the country’s political prisoners who were arrested under the military dictatorship have already been freed. The former president, U Thein Sein, an ex-general who stepped down last week, released more than 1,200 political prisoners during his five years in office. Most of the country’s political prisoners who were arrested under the military dictatorship have already been freed. The former president, U Thein Sein, a former general who stepped down last week, released more than 1,200 political prisoners during his five years in office.
Myanmar still has 526 political prisoners, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a group that tracks the plight of jailed dissidents in Myanmar. About a hundred of them have been convicted and are serving prison sentences. But more than 400 others were arrested relatively recently and are awaiting trial.Myanmar still has 526 political prisoners, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a group that tracks the plight of jailed dissidents in Myanmar. About a hundred of them have been convicted and are serving prison sentences. But more than 400 others were arrested relatively recently and are awaiting trial.
In her brief statement, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi said there were three ways her government could release prisoners: a presidential amnesty under criminal law, a presidential amnesty under the Constitution, and the withdrawal of charges by prosecutors for those who have not yet been tried. In her brief statement, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi said there were three ways her government could release prisoners: a presidential amnesty under criminal law, a presidential amnesty under the Constitution, or the withdrawal of charges by prosecutors for those who have not yet been tried.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said that all the prisoners could be freed through a grant of amnesty.The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said that all the prisoners could be freed through a grant of amnesty.
But it was unclear whether the military would attempt to block an amnesty or the dropping of charges for prisoners awaiting trial. The approval of the national security council, which is dominated by military appointees, is required for a presidential amnesty. But it was unclear whether the military would try to block an amnesty or the dropping of charges for prisoners awaiting trial. The approval of the national security council, which is dominated by military appointees, is required for a presidential amnesty.
And prisoners who have not been tried come under the authority of the minister of home affairs, one of three ministers appointed by the army commander-in-chief under the Constitution. And prisoners who have not been tried come under the authority of the minister of home affairs, one of three ministers appointed by the army commander in chief under the Constitution.