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| Aung San Suu Kyi calls for release of all Burma's political prisoners | Aung San Suu Kyi calls for release of all Burma's political prisoners |
| (4 months later) | |
| Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, back from her triumphant tour of Europe, has repeated calls for the government to release hundreds of political prisoners. | Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, back from her triumphant tour of Europe, has repeated calls for the government to release hundreds of political prisoners. |
| Aung San Suu Kyi's comments came in response to reports that President Thein Sein has granted amnesty to 46 prisoners who were expected to be freed from prisons later on Tuesday. | Aung San Suu Kyi's comments came in response to reports that President Thein Sein has granted amnesty to 46 prisoners who were expected to be freed from prisons later on Tuesday. |
| More than 20 of those receiving an amnesty are prisoners of conscience, said Ko Ko Gyi, a prominent former political prisoner. Among them are former student activist Aye Aung, who was serving a 59-year sentence for distributing pamphlets and taking part in a protest during a 1998 pro-democracy uprising. | More than 20 of those receiving an amnesty are prisoners of conscience, said Ko Ko Gyi, a prominent former political prisoner. Among them are former student activist Aye Aung, who was serving a 59-year sentence for distributing pamphlets and taking part in a protest during a 1998 pro-democracy uprising. |
| "We are very happy that our fellow political prisoners are being released," Ko Ko Gyi said. "However, we will continue to work for the release of all political prisoners." | "We are very happy that our fellow political prisoners are being released," Ko Ko Gyi said. "However, we will continue to work for the release of all political prisoners." |
| Human Rights Watch says at least 659 political prisoners have been released over the past year as part of Burma's startling series of reforms. | Human Rights Watch says at least 659 political prisoners have been released over the past year as part of Burma's startling series of reforms. |
| Estimates by human rights groups of the number of political prisoners who remain in government custody range from about 200 to 600. Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy opposition party puts the number at 330. | Estimates by human rights groups of the number of political prisoners who remain in government custody range from about 200 to 600. Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy opposition party puts the number at 330. |
| "We will call for the release of all 330 political prisoners," Aung San Suu Kyi, the country's most famous former political prisoner, said at a news conference. It was her first public appearance since returning from her two-week tour of Europe, her first overseas journey in 24 years. | "We will call for the release of all 330 political prisoners," Aung San Suu Kyi, the country's most famous former political prisoner, said at a news conference. It was her first public appearance since returning from her two-week tour of Europe, her first overseas journey in 24 years. |
| The state-run New Light of Myanmar reported that 37 men and nine women were being freed. | The state-run New Light of Myanmar reported that 37 men and nine women were being freed. |
| It said the decision had been made on humanitarian grounds "with a view to ensuring the stability of the state and making eternal peace (and) national reconciliation". | It said the decision had been made on humanitarian grounds "with a view to ensuring the stability of the state and making eternal peace (and) national reconciliation". |
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