KALADAN NEWS

Dated- 5th May 2003

BURMA FREES 21 PRISONERS

CHITTAGONG, May 5: Burma’s military government has

released 21 prisoners, including prominent academic

Salai Tun Than and 12 members of the opposition

National League for Democracy (NLD), according to AFP,

Rangoon, said in a statement Sunday.

The announcement comes ahead of this week’s one-year

anniversary of the junta’s release of NLD leader Aung

San Suu Kyi from 19 months of house arrest.

“ The government of Burma commuted the sentences and

released 18 prisoners today and three last week,

totaling 21, taking consideration of health and

humanitarian concerns,” the junta said.

“The releases are the latest in a series of efforts by

the government to move Burma closer to multiparty

democracy and national reconciliation,” it said, in a

likely bid to appease growing frustration over its

lack of reform.

Aung San Suu Kyi began secret talks with the junta

aimed at reconciliation in October 2000, but a

political dialogue has yet to begin. International

patience with the regime is wearing thin, while late

last month Aung San Suu Kyi herself complained

publicly for the first time over the stalled talks, it

further added.

Editor

Kaladan Press Network

E-mail: kaladanpress @ yahoo.com