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Burma prisoner release includes prominent comedian | |
(40 minutes later) | |
The authorities in Burma have released dozens of prisoners, including political detainees, at the start of a general amnesty. | |
Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi says more than 100 political prisoners have been released so far. | |
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 was wary of his new found freedom, describing it as conditional. "If I do something wrong they will send me back," he said. | |
"I'm not happy today," he said, "because there are so many of my friends still in prison." | |
Leaders of a failed uprising in 1988 are reportedly still in jail. | |
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 |
A spokesman for Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy(NLD), Nyan Win, said that as far as he knew about 120 political prisoners had been released. | |
A number of monks are thought to be among those freed, but there are conflicting reports about whether they include one of the monks' leaders, Shin Gambira. | |
He led street protests in 2007, which were crushed by the previous military government. | |
Early reports that he had been released were later denied by some activists. | |
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. |
'One of the barometers' | |
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. | |
But Nyan Win of the 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." |
The BBC's South-East Asia correspondent, Rachel Harvey, says pro-democracy activists, human rights organisations and western diplomats are likely to scrutinise carefully the list of those released on Wednesday and tailor their response accordingly. | |
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: |