|
Myanmar releases
pro-democracy economist
YANGON: Myanmar's military government has released from prison a noted economics writer, a former senior member of the pro-democracy party of Aung San Suu Kyi. A Myanmar government statement on Monday said Moe Thu, 62, also known as Sein Myint, the former editor of the popular economics magazine Danna, was freed from Yangon's Insein Jail on January 3 on humanitarian grounds following the death of his wife. He was jailed for rallying crowds without permission in June 1996 in the name of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, it said, without mentioning the duration of his sentence. A friend who saw him after his release last week said Moe Thu was in good health. Also Monday, the All Burma Federation of Student Unions - an underground movement that has been a driving force behind anti-military protests - reported that more than 20 democracy advocates were imprisoned for terms of 25 years or more on December 3. The military government did not immediately comment on the report of the sentences. In a statement received in Bangkok, the federation said the activists were jailed for pro-democracy activities that included agitating for protests on September 9, 1999. The date had been seen as auspicious by dissidents but few if any demonstrations took place. The federation named four students and teachers from Bago, a city 80 kilometers northeast of Yangon, whom it said were tortured during interrogation and jailed for life. It did not identify any of the other activists. Also known as a film director, Moe Thu had been a senior member of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, but apparently fell out of favor for his left-wing views and was expelled from the party. Hundreds of party activists and other political opponents of the military regime have been jailed or forced into exile. The regime brooks no opposition and has refused to recognize the party's sweeping victory in elections in 1990. |