Burma campaigners hope detainees will be freed

BURMA is expected to release political detainees today under an amnesty for thousands of prisoners announced after the national human rights commission urged the president to free “prisoners of conscience”.

The United States, Europe and Australia have made the release of an estimated 2,100 political prisoners a key condition before they would consider lifting sanctions imposed onBurma.

State television yesterday said 6,359 prisoners who are “elderly, sick, disabled or have served their punishment with good conduct and character” would be freed – but did not say if political detainees would be among them.

In an open letter published in state newspapers yesterday, Win Mra, chairman of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, wrote that prisoners who did not pose “a threat to the stability of state and public tranquility” should be released. The commission was formed last month by President Thein Sein, a former general who became the first civilian head of state in half a century.

The letter marks a shift in a country where authorities have refused to recognise the existence of political prisoners.