Burmese opposition and human rights groups say the government released dozens of political prisoners Wednesday, including a famous monk and a popular comedian. Members of the opposition National League for Democracy said the organization has identified more than 100 political prisoners who were included in a mass amnesty covering thousands of criminals. NLD leader Aung […]
Burmese Prison Release Includes Dozens of Political Prisoners
Posted October 12th, 2011 at 5:55 am (UTC-5)
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Burmese Prison Release Includes Dozens of Political Prisoners
Posted October 12th, 2011 at 5:20 am (UTC-5)
Burmese opposition and human rights groups say the government released dozens of political prisoners Wednesday, including a famous monk and a popular comedian. Members of the opposition National League for Democracy said the organization has identified more than 100 political prisoners who were included in a mass amnesty covering thousands of criminals. Reuters news agency […]
Burmese Prison Release Includes Dozens of Political Prisoners
Posted October 12th, 2011 at 2:40 am (UTC-5)
Rights groups say Burma released dozens of political prisoners Wednesday, including a famous monk and a comedian, as it begins a mass release of thousands of prisoners. The Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said it had confirmed at least 50 political prisoners among those released so far. These include Ashin Gambira, a leader of […]
Jailed Burmese Dissident Among First to be Released Under Amnesty
Posted October 11th, 2011 at 11:20 pm (UTC-5)
A prominent Burmese entertainer and dissident was freed Wednesday as part of the government’s pledge to grant amnesty to more than 6,000 prisoners. Comedian Zarganar was arrested in 2008 and sentenced to 59 years in prison for criticizing the former military junta’s slow response to Cyclone Nargis, which left about 138,000 people dead or missing […]
Burma’s State Television Says Prisoner Release Imminent
Posted October 11th, 2011 at 3:35 am (UTC-5)
Burma’s state television announced Tuesday that the government will begin releasing more than 6,000 prisoners Wednesday. The brief announcement, monitored by VOA’s Burmese service, said the prisoners will be released for good conduct. It did not say how many would be freed in the first group or whether the release would include any of Burma’s […]
Burma’s State Television Says Prisoner Release Imminent
Posted October 11th, 2011 at 3:20 am (UTC-5)
Burma’s state television announced Tuesday that the government will begin releasing more than 6,000 prisoners Wednesday. The brief announcement, monitored by VOA’s Burmese service, said the prisoners will be released for good conduct. It did not say how many would be freed in the first group or whether the release would include any of Burma’s […]
Burma’s Rights Panel Urges Release of Political Prisoners
Posted October 11th, 2011 at 3:10 am (UTC-5)
Burma’s state television announced Tuesday that the government will begin releasing more than 6,000 prisoners beginning Wednesday. The brief announcement, monitored by VOA’s Burmese service, said the prisoners will be released for good conduct. It did not say how many would be freed in the first group or whether it would include any of Burma’s […]
Burma’s Rights Panel Urges Release of Political Prisoners
Posted October 11th, 2011 at 2:10 am (UTC-5)
Burma’s new human rights commission is calling for President Thein Sein to release hundreds of political prisoners, lending weight to reports that a major prisoner release is imminent. In an open letter released Tuesday, National Human Rights Commission chairman Win Mra said the United Nations and a number of countries have called for the release […]
Diplomats: Burmese Prisoner Release May be Imminent
Posted October 10th, 2011 at 9:35 am (UTC-5)
Diplomats inside and outside Burma say the new Burmese government may be preparing to start releasing political prisoners jailed by the country’s former military junta. No details have been provided. But Norwegian deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Espen Barth Eide told VOA’s Burmese service that he has been told by Parliament Speaker Thura Shwe Mann that […]
Burma, China Agree to Settle Dispute Over Irrawaddy Dam
Posted October 10th, 2011 at 8:30 am (UTC-5)
Burma told China Monday it is prepared to “properly settle” a disagreement over Burma’s suspension of work on a Chinese-backed hydro-electric dam. Chinese state media also quoted Burmese Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin as saying during a visit to Beijing that his country hopes to increase cooperation with China on matters of mutual benefit. The […]
