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burma-commutation VOA Report
- Subject: burma-commutation VOA Report
- From: moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 21:48:00
DATE=12/2/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-223511
TITLE=BURMA-COMMUTATION (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: BURMA'S MILITARY RULERS HAVE REDUCED THE PRISON SENTENCES
OF A UNKNOWN NUMBER OF INMATES. AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT GARY
THOMAS REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU, IT IS NOT CLEAR
HOW MANY -- IF ANY -- IMPRISONED MEMBERS OF THE PRO-DEMOCRACY
MOVEMENT ARE COVERED BY THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.
TEXT: BURMA'S RULING STATE PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL HAS
ORDERED THE PRISON SENTENCES OF PEOPLE CONVICTED BY CIVIL OR
MILITARY COURTS TO BE CUT. THE BRIEF ANNOUNCEMENT SAYS THE ORDER
-- SIGNED BY COUNCIL CHAIRMAN GENERAL THAN SHWE -- COVERS INMATES
SENTENCED BEFORE NOVEMBER 15TH.
THE ORDER COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCES TO LIFE OR 20 YEARS IN PRISON.
THOSE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON WILL HAVE THEIR SENTENCES
REDUCED TO 10 YEARS. PRISONERS UNDER A SENTENCE OF 20 YEARS OR
MORE WILL HAVE THEIR TERMS CUT TO 15 YEARS AND THOSE SERVING
TERMS OF BETWEEN 10 TO 20 YEARS WILL HAVE TO SERVE 10 YEARS.
THE ORDER DOES NOT MENTION ANY CATEGORY OF OFFENSES, BUT A
GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN IN RANGOON TOLD V-O-A THE TYPE OF CRIME IS
NOT THE CRITERIA FOR COMMUTATION -- ONLY THE LENGTH OF SENTENCE.
WHILE THIS WOULD THEORETICALLY MAKE POLITICAL OFFENDERS ELIGIBLE
FOR REDUCED TERMS, MANY PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS HAVE RECEIVED
SEVEN-YEAR SENTENCES. THEY WOULD THEREFORE NOT APPEAR TO BE
COVERED BY THE ORDER.
THE SPOKESMAN SAYS NO NUMBERS WERE AVAILABLE ON THE NUMBER OF
PRISONERS AFFECTED. HE SAYS THERE WILL BE NO IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR ANYONE, BECAUSE THE ORDER ONLY COVERS PEOPLE SERVING TERMS OF
MORE THAN 10 YEARS.
ASKED THE REASON FOR THE ORDER, THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID IT
IS A TRADITION IN BURMA FOR SENTENCES TO BE COMMUTED WHEN A NEW
ADMINISTRATION COMES INTO EXISTENCE AND THAT THE PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATION HAD TWICE REDUCED PRISON TERMS. CALLING IT A
"GREAT DEED," THE SPOKESMAN ADDED IT COMPLIES WITH BUDDHIST
TEACHING AND BURMESE CULTURE TO -- AS HE PUTS IT -- MAKE THE
PEOPLE HAPPY BY REDUCING THE SENTENCES THEY ARE SERVING.
// OPT // LAST MONTH, THE STATE LAW AND ORDER RESTORATION COUNCIL
WAS ABOLISHED AND REPLACED WITH A NEW STATE PEACE AND
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, WITH A YOUNGER GENERATION OF MILITARY
OFFICERS. SEVERAL TOP GENERALS LOST THEIR POSITIONS IN THE
RESHUFFLE, BUT THE TOP FOUR GENERALS -- INCLUDING THAN SHWE AND
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE CHIEF KHIN NYUNT -- REMAIN IN POWER. //
END OPT //
THERE HAS BEEN NO COMMENT FROM PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU
KYI OR HER NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY ON THE COMMUTATION
ORDER. (SIGNED)
NEB / GPT / WD / WD
02-Dec-97 6:14 AM EST (1114 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.