UN RIGHTS EXPERT WELCOMES SUSPENSION OF JAIL TERMS OF MYANMAR PRISONERS

19 November 2004

The Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights regarding the situation in Myanmar made the following statement today:

The Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation in Myanmar, Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, welcomes the news made public yesterday by the Government of Myanmar on the suspension of prison terms of 3,937 prisoners and the beginning of their release from various prisons throughout the country. This move follows the dissolution of the National Intelligence Bureau last month and the review of irregularities that might have been committed by its agents.

Pending the clarification by the authorities of details of all those released, the Special Rapporteur hopes that this large-scale release includes all political prisoners who have been detained for the exercise of basic human rights including freedoms of opinion, expression, information, religion, assembly and association. He believes this development will contribute to creating an enabling environment for the process under way in the country towards democratization. The Special Rapporteur stated earlier on many occasions that the release of all political prisons is essential for the success of any political transitional process.

The Special Rapporteur stands ready to continue cooperation with the Government with a view to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Myanmar.