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| Southeast Asia |
| Rights groups demand Myanmar junta release political prisoners |
| 2007-11-11 |
| UN human rights expert Paulo Sergio Pinheiro was due Sunday to start his first visit to Myanmar in four years as rights groups demanded the ruling junta release all political prisoners. Pinheiro had been refused entry to the country since 2003 but had repeatedly requested access, especially after a deadly crackdown on anti-government protests in September. The Brazilian rights expert earlier this week welcomed the generals’ invitation as a “positive indication” of their desire to cooperate during his November 11-15 visit, which comes amid apparent signs of progress on establishing dialogue between the junta and democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Rights groups said Pinheiro’s visit was a chance to push the generals on reforms and demanded the release of all political prisoners. Amnesty International wrote Friday to Myanmar’s authorities with a briefing paper outlining “grave and ongoing human rights violations” committed since the start of the clampdown, which sparked international outrage. Amnesty estimated 700 political prisoners were still in detention, including 91 detained during the recent protests, and accused the authorities of the enforced disappearance of at least 72 people.The government said 10 people died in the protests and about 3,000 were detained, but diplomats put both figures at far higher. The authorities must “immediately and unconditionally release all of those who were arrested for exercising their right to freedom or expression or assembly during the crackdown, as well as all prisoners of conscience held before the recent events,” the London-based group demanded. Amnesty also called on the generals to cooperate with Pinheiro and deliver “concrete human rights improvements.” |
| Posted by:Fred |