Myanmar to grant amnesty to prisoners

Myanmar is planning to amnesty prisoners to enable them to take part in national elections next year, at the request of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the country's UN envoy said yesterday. But, addressing the UN Security Council, Ambassador Than...

Myanmar is planning to amnesty prisoners to enable them to take part in national elections next year, at the request of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the country's UN envoy said yesterday.

But, addressing the UN Security Council, Ambassador Than Swe did not say how many prisoners would be released, or when, or whether they would include key figures like opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

During a July 3-4 visit to Myanmar, Mr Ban pressed the ruling Myanmar junta to free all political prisoners, including Suu Kyi, who is on trial on charges of breaking the conditions of her house arrest.

"At the request of the secretary-general, the Myanmar government is processing to grant amnesty to prisoners on humanitarian ground and with a view to enabling them to participate in the 2010 general elections," Than Swe said, speaking in English.

He said the Myanmar government "intends to implement all appropriate recommendations that (the) secretary-general had proposed."

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