Myanmar: Hundreds of Political Prisoners Free, but Thousands Still in Jail

“The release of political prisoners in Myanmar is not only a relief for those unjustly detained, but also for their families,” office spokesman Jeremy Laurence told reporters in Geneva.

“However, it is important that we take this opportunity to call for the release of the thousands of people who remain in detention for opposing the military regime,” he added.

tortured in prison

To mark the 75th anniversary of the country’s independence, the military junta that seized power nearly two years ago announced this week that it would release some 7,000 prisoners.

However, he did not specify whether those jailed would be included as part of his brutal crackdown on dissent.

According to reliable sources, the spokesperson for the Human Rights Office explained that the military regime has imprisoned some 300 political prisoners.

“Even as news emerged about the amnesty to mark the country’s independence day, we continue to receive reports of people detained for opposing the military government, many of whom have been subjected to torture and ill-treatment,” he added.

freedom call

As this year marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called for an end to arbitrary detention once and for all.

As for human rights as “the force that unifies us,” and takes us “back to the foundations of who we are, of human dignity, and what connects us all,” he argued that one person’s pain ultimately hurt everyone.

Türk called on governments and all detention authorities worldwide to put the historic Declaration into practice by granting an amnesty, pardon or simply releasing all those detained for exercising their rights.

“The way out of the Myanmar crisis is not to lock people up, but to allow them to participate freely, fully and effectively in political life,” Laurence stressed.

Call for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi

Regarding the new sentence announced earlier this week against the former democratically elected leader of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi, the High Commissioner called for her immediate release and an end to arbitrary detention of people.

On Tuesday, UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said the General secretary António Guterres had also expressed his “deep concern” over the latest verdicts and sentences against Aung San Suu Kyi, “and reiterated calls for her immediate release, as well as that of President Wyn Myint and all prisoners arbitrarily detained in Myanmar.” .

The spokesman assured that the High Commissioner is in constant contact with the authorities and that he will publish a new report on Myanmar shortly.