Agenda Item 14: Specific Groups and Individuals. "...On the question of elderly people, recognized to be a vulnerable group, Aliran wishes to condemn continued detention of prisoners who are aging, frail or ill. It is extremely distressing to note that in Burma, a significant number of people are doomed to spend their golden years in jail. Is this what the Burmese junta means by Myanmar culture?..." Is this the reason Dr. Salai Tun Than aged 74 was recently sentenced to 7 years jail? Why award-winning journalist U Win Tin aged 72 remains behind bars, as is Nai Ngwe Thein aged 76 and Member of Parliament Saw Oo Reh, aged 73? Why are there still so many senior citizens languishing in Burmese jails? Does the Burmese regime imagine that jails are suitable as retirement villas? While Aliran understands that the release of all political prisoners may cause severe culture shock to the Burmese authorities, it is perfectly reasonable to expect that those who are aged, ill or have completed their sentences should be released. Aliran hopes that those lucky to have exceeded the nation?s average life expectancy of 58.4 years should not be detained in the future..."