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Burma to free all political prisoners, says Thein Sein | Burma to free all political prisoners, says Thein Sein |
(35 minutes later) | |
Burma will release all political prisoners "by the end of the year", President Thein Sein has said during his first official visit to the UK. | Burma will release all political prisoners "by the end of the year", President Thein Sein has said during his first official visit to the UK. |
The president made the remarks during a speech in London, after holding talks with Prime Minister David Cameron. | The president made the remarks during a speech in London, after holding talks with Prime Minister David Cameron. |
Burma, also known as Myanmar, has freed hundreds of political detainees since Thein Sein took power in March 2010. | Burma, also known as Myanmar, has freed hundreds of political detainees since Thein Sein took power in March 2010. |
Up until then, it barely acknowledged the prisoners' existence. Their release is part of ongoing political reforms. | Up until then, it barely acknowledged the prisoners' existence. Their release is part of ongoing political reforms. |
"By the end of the year there will be no prisoners of conscience in Myanmar," President Thein Sein said on Monday. | "By the end of the year there will be no prisoners of conscience in Myanmar," President Thein Sein said on Monday. |
He added that a special committee was reviewing every political inmate's case. | He added that a special committee was reviewing every political inmate's case. |
The president is in Britain to discuss trade and military ties. He wants help to boost Burma's economy and Western nations are keen to invest in the resource-rich nation. | |
Sectarian violence | |
Earlier, Mr Cameron told the Burmese president greater action was needed on human rights. | |
The British PM said he was "particularly concerned" about the treatment of Rohingya Muslims in Buddhist-majority Burma. | |
Sectarian violence in Rakhine state last year left some 200 people dead and tens of thousands - mostly Rohingya people - displaced. | |
Burmese authorities have been accused of failing to stop the violence and adequately safeguard the rights of Muslims. | |
But the government says Rohingya people are relatively recent migrants from the Indian sub-continent, and so the country's constitution does not include them among indigenous groups qualifying for citizenship. | |
President Thein Sein has introduced major reforms since the elections of November 2010, which saw military rule replaced with a military-backed civilian government. | |
Many political prisoners have been freed and media restrictions have been relaxed. | |
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy - which boycotted the November 2010 polls - has rejoined the political process and now has a small presence in parliament. | |
In response, most international sanctions against Burma have been relaxed. |
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