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| Burma prisoner release includes well-known comedian | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The authorities in Burma have released dozens of prisoners, including political detainees, in an amnesty. | |
| They are reported to include Shin Gambira, a monk who led street marches in 2007 that were crushed by the military. | |
| A popular comedian, Zarganar, was among the first to be freed. | A popular comedian, Zarganar, was among the first to be freed. |
| He was arrested in 2008 after publicly criticising the response to Cyclone Nargis, which killed more than 140,000 people. | He was arrested in 2008 after publicly criticising the response to Cyclone Nargis, which killed more than 140,000 people. |
| Speaking to the BBC shortly after his release, Zarganar described his freedom as conditional. "If I do something wrong they will send me back," he said. | |
| He also stressed that other political prisoners, "my friends", as he called them, remained in jail and should also be set free. | He also stressed that other political prisoners, "my friends", as he called them, remained in jail and should also be set free. |
| 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. |
| A list of those to be released has not been published. | A list of those to be released has not been published. |
| Political prisoners | Political prisoners |
| Shin Gambira was one of the monks who led what became known as the saffron revolution of 2007, an uprising that was violently suppressed by the previous military government. | Shin Gambira was one of the monks who led what became known as the saffron revolution of 2007, an uprising that was violently suppressed by the previous military government. |
| The Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners told AFP at least 70 political detainees had been freed. | The Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners told AFP at least 70 political detainees had been freed. |
| "I think we will see some more," said their spokesman Aung Khaing Min. | "I think we will see some more," said their spokesman Aung Khaing Min. |
| Reuters news agency estimates that about two dozen political prisoners have been released so far. | Reuters news agency estimates that about two dozen political prisoners have been released so far. |
| Western nations currently impose sanctions on Burma, and one of the key reasons is political prisoners. | Western nations currently impose sanctions on Burma, and one of the key reasons is political prisoners. |
| Thought to number about 2,000, they include journalists, pro-democracy activists, government critics, monks involved in anti-government protests in 2007 and members of Burma's ethnic groups fighting for greater autonomy. | Thought to number about 2,000, they include journalists, pro-democracy activists, government critics, monks involved in anti-government protests in 2007 and members of Burma's ethnic groups fighting for greater autonomy. |
| 'Promising signals' | 'Promising signals' |
| 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 pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and held dialogue with her. | Since then the government has freed pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and held dialogue with her. |
| But Nyan Win, a spokesman for Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, told the BBC that a prisoner release was not all that was needed. | But Nyan Win, a spokesman for Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, 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." |
| The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, speaking to Reuters before Burma began the prisoner releases, said she was encouraged by "promising signals" of reform but that it was too early to announce steps Washington might take in response. | The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, speaking to Reuters before Burma began the prisoner releases, said she was encouraged by "promising signals" of reform but that it was too early to announce steps Washington might take in response. |
| "We're encouraged by the steps we see the government taking ... we're going to take them at their word," Mrs Clinton said in an interview in Washington. "But we want to see actions. And if they are going to release political prisoners, that would be a very positive sign." | "We're encouraged by the steps we see the government taking ... we're going to take them at their word," Mrs Clinton said in an interview in Washington. "But we want to see actions. And if they are going to release political prisoners, that would be a very positive sign." |
| Are you in Burma? Have you or any of your relatives been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please contact the BBC using the form below: | Are you in Burma? Have you or any of your relatives been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please contact the BBC using the form below: |