Following an announcement of a limited prisoner amnesty in Burma, but no mass release of political prisoners, the new dictator, Thein Sein, is increasingly showing himself to be as or more hard-line than former dictator Than Shwe.
In the first few months of becoming dictator, Than Shwe first acknowledged that there were political prisoners, and then released 427 political prisoners.
In contrast, Thein Sein’s government denies political prisoners even exist, and instead of announcing the release of political prisoners, or releasing significant numbers under the cover of a general prisoner amnesty, has instead announced only that all prisoners will have their sentences reduced by one year, and that those on death row will have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment. This is a mechanism designed to avoid releasing senior opposition leaders, many of whom were given sentences of 65 years or more after the pro-democracy uprising in 2007. One political prisoner is serving a 104 year sentence.
Speculation had been growing in recent weeks that there would be a mass prisoner amnesty in Burma. Such releases are common in the country, happening every year or two. Usually a small number of political prisoners are included in the releases, in order to gain positive publicity. Such amnesties are also intended to provide good karma for the generals.
“Thein Sein is now showing his true colours, he is just as bad as the former dictator Than Shwe,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. “It is disappointing but not surprising that Thein Sein is keeping democracy activists in jail. It is yet more evidence that no real change has happened in Burma. It also shows that even now, with a new constitution designed to maintain dictatorship, this is a regime that is still afraid of the democracy movement, and does not feel confident about its grip on power.”
More than 2,000 political prisoners are in jail in Burma. Many have been tortured, and are denied proper medical care. It is not yet known how many political prisoners will be released as a result of all prisoners having their sentences reduced by one year.
Unofficial translation of statement by the dictatorship:
Announcement by the President Regarding Amnesty to the Prisoners
The presidential statement regarding giving an amnesty to the prisoners was announced today.
28/2011 – Issued by the Office of the President
May 16, 2011
The Republic of the Union of Myanmar is emerged as a new peaceful, modernized and disciplined democratic country according to the constitution which was unanimously endorsed by the people. While building a new country, for the sake of the stability and the rule of law, the government has to take action against those who violated the existing laws, according to the laws. However, the government has been managing to transform the convicted prisoners to become active citizens who will help building of the new country by any way they can. Hence, based on the humanitarian ground and clemency on the families of prisoners, according to the State Constitution, Article 204 (B), the President gives pardon to those who are serving prison sentences regarding any crimes they have committed before May 17, 2011, as follows.
(A) Prisoners in death row will be commuted to life sentences.
(B) Other prisoners will be given one year deduction from their current imprisonment, in addition to the parole given by the prisons.