This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-asia-pacific-15269259
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| Burma frees dozens of political prisoners | Burma frees dozens of political prisoners |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The Burmese government has freed about 200 political prisoners as part of a general amnesty, activists say. | The Burmese government has freed about 200 political prisoners as part of a general amnesty, activists say. |
| A popular comedian and dissident, Zarganar, was among the first to be freed. Some monks and a journalist were also released. | A popular comedian and dissident, Zarganar, was among the first to be freed. Some monks and a journalist were also released. |
| Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi welcomed the amnesty. | Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi welcomed the amnesty. |
| The country's continued detention of about 2,000 political prisoners is a crucial reason why Western nations maintain sanctions on Burma. | The country's continued detention of about 2,000 political prisoners is a crucial reason why Western nations maintain sanctions on Burma. |
| The detainees include journalists, pro-democracy activists, government critics, monks involved in anti-government protests and members of Burma's ethnic groups fighting for greater autonomy. | The detainees include journalists, pro-democracy activists, government critics, monks involved in anti-government protests and members of Burma's ethnic groups fighting for greater autonomy. |
| Zarganar was arrested in 2008 after publicly criticising the government's response to Cyclone Nargis, which killed more than 140,000 people. | Zarganar was arrested in 2008 after publicly criticising the government's response to Cyclone Nargis, which killed more than 140,000 people. |
| He organised aid runs and collections amid international anger at the junta's lack of action. He was convicted of illegally giving information to the press and causing public alarm. | He organised aid runs and collections amid international anger at the junta's lack of action. He was convicted of illegally giving information to the press and causing public alarm. |
| The move is the latest in a series of developments that suggest the new military-backed government is taking some steps towards reform. | The move is the latest in a series of developments that suggest the new military-backed government is taking some steps towards reform. |
| There is a very clear divide between those who look at the changes and say they are a first step, but do not go nearly far enough, and others who say they show that the Burmese government needs to be encouraged. | There is a very clear divide between those who look at the changes and say they are a first step, but do not go nearly far enough, and others who say they show that the Burmese government needs to be encouraged. |
| The number of releases was not as high as some diplomats were hoping for. | The number of releases was not as high as some diplomats were hoping for. |
| At some stage, the Burmese president, Thein Sein, is going to want and perhaps even expect some kind of reward and support for the risks he believes he is taking. | At some stage, the Burmese president, Thein Sein, is going to want and perhaps even expect some kind of reward and support for the risks he believes he is taking. |
| Speaking to the BBC shortly after his release, Zarganar was wary of his new-found freedom, describing it as conditional. | Speaking to the BBC shortly after his release, Zarganar was wary of his new-found freedom, describing it as conditional. |
| "If I do something wrong they will send me back. I'm not happy today because there are so many of my friends still in prison," he said. | "If I do something wrong they will send me back. I'm not happy today because there are so many of my friends still in prison," he said. |
| Several hundred political prisoners remain behind bars, including some of the most high profile activists. | Several hundred political prisoners remain behind bars, including some of the most high profile activists. |
| Leaders of a failed uprising in 1988 are reportedly still in jail. | Leaders of a failed uprising in 1988 are reportedly still in jail. |
| A Burmese prison official told the BBC that 300 dissidents had been freed, but this figure has not been confirmed. | A Burmese prison official told the BBC that 300 dissidents had been freed, but this figure has not been confirmed. |
| Many of those who were released from Insein prison, where many of the political detainees are held, were elderly or infirm. | Many of those who were released from Insein prison, where many of the political detainees are held, were elderly or infirm. |
| An ethnic minority militia commander, Sai Say Htan, of the Shan State Army, was among those freed. | An ethnic minority militia commander, Sai Say Htan, of the Shan State Army, was among those freed. |
| Bold step? | Bold step? |
| Rights group Amnesty International said Burma's government - a nominally civilian administration dominated by leaders of the former military regime - must free more political detainees if it is seriously committed to reform. | Rights group Amnesty International said Burma's government - a nominally civilian administration dominated by leaders of the former military regime - must free more political detainees if it is seriously committed to reform. |
| "This release of political prisoners is welcome, but is not consistent with the authorities' recent promises of political reform in Burma," said Benjamin Zawacki, Amnesty International's Burma researcher, who is based in Bangkok. | "This release of political prisoners is welcome, but is not consistent with the authorities' recent promises of political reform in Burma," said Benjamin Zawacki, Amnesty International's Burma researcher, who is based in Bangkok. |
| "Unless the figure rises substantially, it will constitute a relaxation of reform efforts rather than a bold step forward." | "Unless the figure rises substantially, it will constitute a relaxation of reform efforts rather than a bold step forward." |
| Britain described the releases as an encouraging first step, and the European Union said Burma was "on the cusp of change". | Britain described the releases as an encouraging first step, and the European Union said Burma was "on the cusp of change". |
| The government said on Tuesday that more than 6,000 prisoners would be freed but it was unclear how many would be political detainees. | The government said on Tuesday that more than 6,000 prisoners would be freed but it was unclear how many would be political detainees. |
| Ms Suu Kyi, herself freed from 15 years of house arrest last year, said: "We hope many more will be released. I'm really thankful for the release of political prisoners." | Ms Suu Kyi, herself freed from 15 years of house arrest last year, said: "We hope many more will be released. I'm really thankful for the release of political prisoners." |
| Early reports that one of the monks' leaders, Shin Gambira, had been released, have now been denied. | Early reports that one of the monks' leaders, Shin Gambira, had been released, have now been denied. |
| He led street protests in 2007 in what became known as the Saffron Revolution, an uprising that was crushed by the previous military government. | He led street protests in 2007 in what became known as the Saffron Revolution, an uprising that was crushed by the previous military government. |
| Barometer of change | Barometer of change |
| Burma announced an amnesty of 15,000 prisoners in May 2011 and freed more than 7,000 in 2009 - but those moves were criticised by rights groups for failing to include political prisoners. | Burma announced an amnesty of 15,000 prisoners in May 2011 and freed more than 7,000 in 2009 - but those moves were criticised by rights groups for failing to include political prisoners. |
| Burma held its first elections in two decades almost a year ago - polls which saw military rule replaced with a military-backed civilian-led government. | Burma held its first elections in two decades almost a year ago - polls which saw military rule replaced with a military-backed civilian-led government. |
| Since then the government has freed Aung San Suu Kyi and held a dialogue with her. | Since then the government has freed Aung San Suu Kyi and held a dialogue with her. |
| But Nyan Win of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) told the BBC that a prisoner release was not all that was needed. | But Nyan Win of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) told the BBC that a prisoner release was not all that was needed. |
| "The release of political prisoners is just one of the barometers of the government's seriousness about a change to democracy," he said. | "The release of political prisoners is just one of the barometers of the government's seriousness about a change to democracy," he said. |
| "There should be other developments like media freedom, and the relaxation of censorship among other things." | "There should be other developments like media freedom, and the relaxation of censorship among other things." |