Media Statement - for immediate release

22 September 2009

Burma political prisoners' rights group: prisoner releases “cynical ploy to ease international pressure”

[Mae Sot, Thailand] The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) (AAPP) today confirmed that 127 political prisoners have been released from prisons in Burma.  Last Thursday evening in Rangoon, state-run MRTV carried a news bulletin announcing that 7,114 prisoners were to be released “on humanitarian grounds.”

43 members of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party were released, including three MPs. However, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, her personal assistant U Win Htein and NLD Vice-Chairman U Tin Oo all remain in detention.  No leading opposition figures were released in the amnesty.

AAPP Secretary Tate Naing said, “Important political figures like Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Shan National League for Democracy leader U Khun Tun Oo, 88 Generation Students leader Min Ko Naing and other prominent activists are still in prison, because the regime perceives them as a threat to its absolute power.”

22 women, four monks, and four journalists were released.  The journalists included Eint Khaing Oo and Kyaw Kyaw Thant, arrested for their efforts to help a group of Cyclone Nargis survivors.  Also released were U Peter and Daw Nu Nu Swe, arrested and sentenced to six years imprisonment after they refused to open the door to security forces who were searching for their son, Sithu Maung.  A leader of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, 22 year-old Sithu Maung was arrested at a different location and is currently serving a jail term of 11 years and 6 months in the remote Buthidaung prison for his role in protests in August and September 2007.

“We are happy for those political prisoners released, and for their loved ones.  But from a political perspective, this is just a cynical ploy designed to ease international pressure. There can be no real progress towards democracy in our country until all political prisoners are released,” Tate Naing continued.

According to AAPP, more than 2,000 political prisoners remain in jail, including at least 124 activists who are in poor health.

Since November 2004 there have been a total of six amnesties for prisoners.  According to the ruling State Peace and Development Council’s own figures, 45,732 prisoners were released under those amnesties.  According to AAPP, only 1.3% of them were political prisoners. 

The latest amnesty was expected.   In mid-July the Burmese permanent representative to the U.N., U Than Swe, said the regime was ‘processing to grant amnesty to prisoners on humanitarian grounds’.  U Than Swe’s comments came in response to a briefing given by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on his visit to the country earlier in July.  The amnesty also comes shortly before the opening of this year’s UN General Assembly session to be attended by General Thein Sein, the junta-appointed Prime Minister.
-ENDS-

For media interviews, please contact:

Tate Naing, AAPP Secretary +66(0)81-287-8751
Bo Kyi, AAPP Joint-Secretary +66(0)81-324-8935

Notes to editors:

• AAPP can confirm that 127 political prisoners have been released from 24 different prisons in Burma.  The 127 released include 43 members of the National League for Democracy, including 3 MPs; 22 women; 11 former political prisoners; 4 monks; 4 journalists; 13 students; 10 members of the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Network; 5 members of the 88 Generation Students; and 1 lawyer.  The following political prisoners have been released.  The list will be updated at www.aappb.org, please check for the latest information: 

1. Angaelay (Mandalay prison) - student
2. Aung Gyi (Insein prison) - student
3. Aung Gyi @ Aung Thwin (Shwebo prison) – journalist, former political prisoner, 88 Generation Students
4. Aung Ko Oo (Tharawaddy prison) - student
5. Aung Lwin (Thandwe prison)
6. Aung Myint (Myaungmya prison) - NLD member; Human Rights Defenders and Promoters member
7. Aung Myo (Shwebo prison) – NLD Township Organiser
8. Aung Naing (Insein prison) – NLD member
9. Aung Naing @ Ba Gyi Aung (Mandalay prison) – NLD member
10. Aung Naing Tun (Monywa prison) – Student
11. Aung Swe (Shwebo prison)  - NLD member
12. Aung Tun (Tharawaddy prison) – student; member of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions
13. Aye Min (a) Aye Min Min (Tharawaddy prison) – private tutor
14. Aye Myint Mar (female) (Monywa prison) - All Burma Students Democratic Front (Western)
15. Ba Chit (Tharawaddy prison) – Ex-captain in the army
16. Ba Min (Kale prison) – NLD member
17. Bo Bo (Myingyan prison)
18. Bo Gyi (Pegu prison)
19. Chan Aung (Monywa prison) - NLD township organiser
20. Chit Thein Tun (Monywa prison) - All Burma Students Democratic Front (Western)
21. Cho Mar Htwe, (Female)  (Moulmein prison) – NLD member
22. Ei (female) (Paungde prison)
23. Eimt Khaing Oo, Female (Insein prison) – journalist; Cyclone Nargis volunteer
24. Hla Shein, (Hinzada prison) , Human Rights Defenders and Promoters
25. Hlaing Aye (Kale prison) - NLD MP, Former Political Prisoner
26. Hnin Hnin (female) (Monywa prison) - All Burma Students Democratic Front (Western)
27. Htay (a) San San Myint, (Female)  (Insein prison)
28. Htay Naing Lin (Monywa prison) - Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Network
29. Htay Win (Thayet prison) – NLD Township Organizer
30. Kay Thi Aung @ Ma Ei (female) (Mandalay prison)
31. Khaing Kaung Zan, (Thayet prison) – Arakan League for Democracy in exile member
32. Khin Khin Lay (a) Khin Lay, (Female)  (Pegu prison) – NLD member
33. Khin Maung Chit (Meiktila prison) - NLD Local Secretary
34. Khin Maung Thein (Shwebo prison) – NLD member
35. Khin Moe Aye (a) Moe Moe (Female), (Myingyan prison) – 88 Generation Students member; former political prisoner
36. Kyaw Kyaw Thant (Insein prison) – journalist; Cyclone Nargis volunteer
37. Kyaw Lwin, (Hinzada prison) , Human Rights Defenders and Promoters
38. Kyaw Maung (Myitkyina prison) – NLD MP
39. Kyaw Thu Htike (Taunggyi prison)
40. Kyaw Win (Tharawaddy prison) – All Burma Students Democratic Front
41. Kyi Kyi Min, (Female)  (Insein prison) – NLD member
42. Kyi Lin (Myintkyina prison) – NLD member
43. Maung Maung Htwe (Shwebo prison)
44. Maung Maung Twin (Mandalay prison)
45. Maw Si (Shwebo prison) – NLD Youth member
46. Mi Mi Sein, (Female)  (Insein prison) – NLD Township Joint-Secretary
47. Mi Mi Swe (female) (Henzada prison)
48. Michael Win Kyaw (Kale prison) – 88 Generation Students member; former political prisoner
49. Min Min (a) La Min Tun, (Hinzada prison) , Human Rights Defenders and Promoters
50. Min Min Soe (Myingyan prison) – 88 Generation Students member
51. Moe Hlaing (Moulmein prison)
52. Moe Kyaw Thu (a) Bo Bo (Mandalay prison)
53. Moe Lwin (Moulmein prison) – individual activist
54. Monywar Aung Shin (a) U Aye Kyu (Insein prison) - Member of NLD and poet
55. Mya Sein, (Hinzada prison) , Human Rights Defenders and Promoters
56. Myint Oo (a) Ni Ni (Mandalay prison) – NLD Township organizer; former political prisoner
57. Myint Oo (Thayet prison) – NLD Township Joint Secretary
58. Myint, (Hinzada prison) , Human Rights Defenders and Promoters
59. Myo Min Lwin (Moulmein prison)
60. Myo Min Tun (Monywa prison) – Student
61. Myo Yan Naung Thein (Thandwe prison) – 88 Generation Students member, former political prisoner
62. Nay Win (Myintkyina prison) – NLD Township Organizer
63. Ni Ni May Myint (Buthidaung prison) - NLD Youth
64. Nine Nine (Insein prison) – NLD MP, Former Political Prisoner
65. Nu Nu Swe @ Pauk Pauk (female) (Myaungmya prison)
66. Nyi Nyi Min (Buthidaung prison) – NLD member
67. Nyo Mya (Kale prison) – NLD member
68. Pe Tin (Pegu prison) – NLD member
69. Peter (Loikaw prison)
70. Pyae Phyo Aung (a) Hnan Mue (Pa-An prison)
71. San Pwint (Kale prison) – NLD member; teacher
72. San Ya (Tharawaddy prison) – NLD member
73. San Yi (Insein prison)
74. Sandar, (Female)  (Myingyan prison) – NLD member
75. Saw Myo Min Hlaing @ James (Thaton prison) - Private Tutor
76. Saw Oo Kyar (Mandalay prison)
77. Saw Taw Kyi (Thayet prison) – Karen National Union member
78. Shin Sandaw Batha, Monk (Insein prison) – All Burma Young Monks Union
79. Shwe Thar (a) Tin Win (Tharawaddy prison) – Karen National Union member
80. Soe Han (Lashio prison) – lawyer; Chair of the National League for Democracy’s (NLD) legal advisory body
81. Soe Moe Naing @ Ngone (Mandalay) – Democratic Party for a New Society
82. Soe Wai (a) Than Zaw (Myitkyina prison)
83. Than Min (a) Tin Tun Aung, (Taungoo prison) – NLD member
84. Than Than Htay, (Female)  (Insein prison) – student
85. Than Than Sint, (Female)  (Insein prison)
86. Than Tun (Shwebo prison)
87. Than Tun Lay (Myingyan prison) – Individual activist
88. Than Zaw Oo (Tharawaddy prison) – NLD member
89. Thar Cho, (Thayet prison) – NLD Township Organizer
90. Thein Zaw (Tharawaddy prison)
91. Thet Oo (Taungoo prison) – Human Rights Defenders and Promoters member
92. Thet Zin (a) Maung Zin (Kale prison) – journalist; former political prisoner; member of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions and the Democratic Party for a New Society
93. Thin Min Soe, (Female)  (Insein prison) – labour activist
94. Thura Win @ Thura Lin (Buthidaung) – Student
95. Tin Mar Swe (female) (Mandalay prison)
96. Tin Maung Nyunt (Shwebo prison) – NLD Township Organiser
97. Tin Mya (Insein prison) - National League for Democracy Township chairperson, Former Political Prisoner
98. Tin Myint (Insein prison) – NLD member
99. Tin Myint (Tharawaddy prison)
100. Tin Myo Htut (a) Kyaw Oo (Insein prison) – Generation Wave; former political prisoner
101. Tin San (Monywa prison)
102. Tin Tin Myint, (Female) (Insein prison) – third year chemistry student
103. Tin Tun (a) Kyaw Swa (Tharawaddy prison) – UN Development Program        staff (New Era journal distributor)
104. Tint San, (Monywa prison) - former political prisoner
105. Tun Hla (Tharawaddy prison)
106. Tun Min Aung (Kawthaung prison)
107. Tun Oo (a) Ngar Kalar (Taungoo prison)
108. Tun Tun Nyein, (Thayet prison) – NLD Youth member
109. Tun Tun Oo (a) Nanda Malar (Taungoo prison) – monk
110. Tun Tun Oo (Thandwe prison)
111. U Han Sein (Tharawaddy prison) – NLD member
112. U Pannita (a) Myint Aye (Taungoo prison) – monk; Human Rights          Defenders and Promoters member
113. U Zawana (a) Soe Myint (Taungoo prison) - monk
114. Win, (Hinzada prison) , Human Rights Defenders and Promoters
115. Win Maw @ Tut Pe (Kale prison) - NLD member
116. Win Myint (Insein prison)
117. Wunna Soe (Pa-An prison) – Democratic Party for a New Society member
118. Yan Aung Shwe (Thayet prison) – All Burma Students Democratic Front         member
119. Yan Kyaw Soe @ Shwe Thway (Monywa prison) – NLD member
120. Yan Naing Min (a) Nan Wai (Mandalay prison) – student
121. Yar Zar @ Tun Lin Oo (Monywa prison) – NLD member
122. Ye Thiha @ Soe Thein (Insein prison) – All Burma Students Democratic           Front
123. Zaw Htet Aung (Kale prison) - student
124. Zaw Lin Tun (a) Phu Zaw (Monywa prison) - All Burma Students Democratic Front (Western)
125. Zaw Tun (Taungoo prison)
126. Zin Hninn Aye @ Zin Mar (female) (Mandalay prison) - Second year       chemistry student
127. Zin Mar Aung (female) (Mandalay prison) – student; NLD member

• According to the SPDC's publicly released figures, a total of 45,732 prisoners have been released in six separate amnesties since November 2004.  According to AAPP figures, 588 (or 1.3%) of them were political prisoners.
• In February 2009, 6,313 prisoners were released.  31 of them were political prisoners.
• In September 2008, 9,002 prisoners were released.  9 of them were political prisoners.
• In November 2007, 8,585 prisoners were released.  20 of them were political prisoners.
• In July 2005, around 400 prisoners were released.  341 of them were political prisoners.
• In November and December 2004, 14,318 prisoners were released.  60 of them were political prisoners.
• On June 10 2008, Kyaw Kyaw Thant and Eint Khaing Oo brought some cyclone survivors from Hlaing Thar Yar Township to the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Rangoon. In the ICRC office, they helped translate for the cyclone survivors who complained about the neglect of the regime and requested assistance from the ICRC. While they were on the way to UNDP office, they were all arrested. The cyclone survivors were later released later, but the two journalists have been held in detention since then. The authorities also accused them of taking photographs of the damage done by Cyclone Nargis and sending them to foreign media (AAPP Cyclone Nargis Anniversary Report, published 1 May 2009).

#

Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)

For more information –

Bo Kyi (Joint Secretary); +66 (0) 819 628 713

Tate Naing (Secretary): +66 (0) 812 878 751