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Burmese junta releases dissidents | Burmese junta releases dissidents |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Five prominent Burmese activists detained since last September have been freed by the country's military junta. | Five prominent Burmese activists detained since last September have been freed by the country's military junta. |
The activists are members of the 88 Generation group, comprised of dissidents who took part in a pro-democracy student uprising in 1988. | The activists are members of the 88 Generation group, comprised of dissidents who took part in a pro-democracy student uprising in 1988. |
They were jailed ahead of the annual national convention in October, accused of trying to destabilise the country. | They were jailed ahead of the annual national convention in October, accused of trying to destabilise the country. |
Speaking to reporters, the dissidents said they did not know why they had suddenly been released. | Speaking to reporters, the dissidents said they did not know why they had suddenly been released. |
The military junta also freed 40 political detainees last week, as part of a mass release to mark the 59th anniversary of the country's independence from Britain. | The military junta also freed 40 political detainees last week, as part of a mass release to mark the 59th anniversary of the country's independence from Britain. |
"We were all sent back home at about 1:30 this morning," said one of the dissidents, Min Ko Naing. | "We were all sent back home at about 1:30 this morning," said one of the dissidents, Min Ko Naing. |
"We are fine," added another activist, Htay Kywe. "We were treated well." | |
'Tangible progress' | 'Tangible progress' |
The release of the five men was unexpected, but comes at a time of heightened pressure on the Burmese regime to instigate changes. | The release of the five men was unexpected, but comes at a time of heightened pressure on the Burmese regime to instigate changes. |
Asian foreign ministers meeting in the Philippines on Thursday voiced concern at the slow pace of democratic reform in the country. | Asian foreign ministers meeting in the Philippines on Thursday voiced concern at the slow pace of democratic reform in the country. |
"We... hope to see tangible progress that would lead to a peaceful transition to democracy in the near future," Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo said, after talks on the sidelines of the annual Asean summit. | "We... hope to see tangible progress that would lead to a peaceful transition to democracy in the near future," Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo said, after talks on the sidelines of the annual Asean summit. |
Pressure groups said the release could also have been designed to stifle efforts by the US to pass a resolution against Burma at the UN Security Council, calling for the country's military rulers to release political prisoners and improve human rights. | Pressure groups said the release could also have been designed to stifle efforts by the US to pass a resolution against Burma at the UN Security Council, calling for the country's military rulers to release political prisoners and improve human rights. |
"This looks like nothing but a cynical ploy to stop the UN Security Council from taking action," said Aung Din, from the US Campaign for Burma. | "This looks like nothing but a cynical ploy to stop the UN Security Council from taking action," said Aung Din, from the US Campaign for Burma. |
All five of the freed activists - Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Ko Htay Kywe, Ko Pyone Cho and Ko Min Zeya - had prominent roles in the 1988 student uprising, when troops opened fire on mass student protests, and thousands of people are thought to have been killed. | All five of the freed activists - Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Ko Htay Kywe, Ko Pyone Cho and Ko Min Zeya - had prominent roles in the 1988 student uprising, when troops opened fire on mass student protests, and thousands of people are thought to have been killed. |
Since then, all the men have spent long periods in jail. | Since then, all the men have spent long periods in jail. |
They are among the most prominent dissidents in the country, after Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel prize-winning opposition leader, who is still under house arrest. | They are among the most prominent dissidents in the country, after Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel prize-winning opposition leader, who is still under house arrest. |
The United Nations estimates that there are about 1,100 political prisoners in Burma. | The United Nations estimates that there are about 1,100 political prisoners in Burma. |
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