UN RIGHTS EXPERT WELCOMES RELEASE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS IN MYANMAR

22 November 2002



The following statement was issued today by the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the Situation in Myanmar:
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on the situation in Myanmar, welcomes the release in that country yesterday of 115 prisoners, including members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and other “security” detainees. This is the largest single release of prisoners since the beginning of the process of confidence building between the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and the NLD in October 2000.
During his last mission to Myanmar in October 2002, the Special Rapporteur reiterated his call for the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining political prisoners and received assurances that releases would continue.
The Special Rapporteur believes that yesterday’s release demonstrates the continuing good will of the SPDC to ease the political atmosphere. He hopes this positive step, taken not long after his visit, will be followed by further releases in the near future. This would contribute to the process of credible change in the political and human rights climate in the country, which is necessary for national reconciliation to take place.



* *** *