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Burma frees high-profile dissidents in amnesty | Burma frees high-profile dissidents in amnesty |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Burma's most important dissidents have been released, in the latest of a series of prisoner amnesties. | |
Those freed include veterans of the 1988 student protest movement, monks involved in the 2007 demonstrations and ethnic-minority activists. | Those freed include veterans of the 1988 student protest movement, monks involved in the 2007 demonstrations and ethnic-minority activists. |
The highest profile is Min Ko Naing, a leader of the failed 1988 uprising. | The highest profile is Min Ko Naing, a leader of the failed 1988 uprising. |
State TV had announced that 651 prisoners would be freed under a new presidential pardon, but did not say how many would be political prisoners. | State TV had announced that 651 prisoners would be freed under a new presidential pardon, but did not say how many would be political prisoners. |
In a statement broadcast on the TV, President Thein Sein said those released were people who could "play a constructive role in the political process". | |
The atmosphere was buzzing. Hundreds of people had gathered outside the gates of Rangoon's main Insein prison. They waited for two hours, occasionally chanting "welcome, welcome political prisoners". | |
Some brought white jasmine garlands to place around the necks of freed prisoners. It wasn't just families of political prisoners - hundreds of others were cheering. | |
Among those freed were monks who participated in the 2007-2008 "saffron revolution". They had been disrobed and made to wear layman's clothes. There were student activists and members of Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD party. | |
Altogether, 82 prisoners were released from Insein. Other prominent student leaders are said to have been released from prisons in other districts and are on their way back to Rangoon. | |
Prisoner releases had been expected, but the inclusion of such prominent figures meant this was still a surprise. | Prisoner releases had been expected, but the inclusion of such prominent figures meant this was still a surprise. |
Responding to the release, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "The release of all political prisoners is a long-standing demand of the international community and I warmly welcome these releases as a further demonstration of the Burmese government's commitment to reform." | |
BBC South East Asia correspondent Rachel Harvey says the names of those released read like a who's who of Burma's most prominent political detainees. | |
Given their stature, this could be the most significant breakthrough yet in Burma's moves towards reform, she says. | |
But some Burmese exiles and campaign groups say the real test will be how much freedom the released prisoners will have to continue their activities, our correspondent adds. | |
'Positive sign' | 'Positive sign' |
Min Ko Naing was considered by many to be the highest-profile dissident still behind bars. | |
A crowd greeted him as he emerged from prison in Thayet, 545km (345 miles) north of Rangoon, the Associated Press news agency reported. | |
Another veteran member of Burma's 88 Generation Students, Nilar Thein, confirmed to the BBC that she had been freed from Tharya Wadi prison. | Another veteran member of Burma's 88 Generation Students, Nilar Thein, confirmed to the BBC that she had been freed from Tharya Wadi prison. |
The activist served eight years in prison after the 1988 demonstrations and was jailed again in 2008 for 65 years for illegally using electronic media. | The activist served eight years in prison after the 1988 demonstrations and was jailed again in 2008 for 65 years for illegally using electronic media. |
"I'm healthy and happy to be released and happy to see my baby," she told the BBC, referring to her daughter, born the year before her imprisonment. | |
She said that although she had been released, 25 more political prisoners remained inside the prison. | |
Her husband, Kyaw Min Yu, known as Ko Jimmy, has also been freed, as well as Htay Kywe, a student activist jailed in 2007 for 65 years. | Her husband, Kyaw Min Yu, known as Ko Jimmy, has also been freed, as well as Htay Kywe, a student activist jailed in 2007 for 65 years. |
"We have been trying all the time to have national reconciliation through political dialogue," Ko Jimmy told the BBC. | |
"Since the new government accepts this concept, we can now work with them." | |
Another student leader, Ko Ko Gyi, said he was excited about being released. | |
"The rule of democracy is the buzz word in our country so they cannot U-turn, that's what I think," he told the BBC. | |
Former Prime Minister Khin Nyunt, who was detained in a purge in 2004, has been released from house arrest. | |
U Khun Tun Oo, the most senior political representative of the Shan, the largest of Burma's ethnic minorities, is also free. | U Khun Tun Oo, the most senior political representative of the Shan, the largest of Burma's ethnic minorities, is also free. |
'Rope around my neck' | 'Rope around my neck' |
Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said the move was a "positive sign". | |
Five of those released were journalists from the exiled broadcaster Democratic Voice of Burma, based in Chiang Mai, Thailand. | Five of those released were journalists from the exiled broadcaster Democratic Voice of Burma, based in Chiang Mai, Thailand. |
One of them, Sithu Zeya, said he was wary of the conditions placed on his release. | One of them, Sithu Zeya, said he was wary of the conditions placed on his release. |
"I have been released with a rope around my neck," he said, saying that the charges against him had not been lifted and that he feared the government would not let him do his job. | |
The military-backed civilian government came to power in November 2010, after the country's first elections in 20 years. Before that Burma was governed by a military junta. | The military-backed civilian government came to power in November 2010, after the country's first elections in 20 years. Before that Burma was governed by a military junta. |
It has freed Ms Suu Kyi and begun dialogue with her and her The National League for Democracy (NLD). She is now expected to stand for parliament in a by-election in April. | |
Western nations have welcomed the reform process but called on the government to release political prisoners and resolve ethnic conflicts in border regions before sanctions can be eased. | Western nations have welcomed the reform process but called on the government to release political prisoners and resolve ethnic conflicts in border regions before sanctions can be eased. |
No official tally of the number of political prisoners is available but prior to Friday's releases opposition groups estimated that up to 1,500 remained in custody. | No official tally of the number of political prisoners is available but prior to Friday's releases opposition groups estimated that up to 1,500 remained in custody. |
The releases come a day after the government signed a landmark ceasefire with the rebel Karen National Union (KNU) in Hpa-an, capital of eastern Karen state. | |
The Karen have fought for greater autonomy for more than 60 years. |