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burma-commutation VOA Report



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)

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Source: Voice of America

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