Yangon frees 14 jailed democracy activists<\/p>\n
YANGON (AFP): Myanmar's ruling junta has released 14 members
\nof the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) who had
\nbeen detained since last year, an NLD source said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Eleven NLD members arrested for demonstrating at a public
\nmarket in Myanmar's ancient capital of Mandalay last year and
\nthree NLD youths detained in Bago were released March 30.<\/p>\n
The move came as Myanmar gave permission to the newly
\nappointed UN special human rights rapporteur on Myanmar, Paulo
\nSergio Pinheiro, to visit the country for the first time this
\nweek.<\/p>\n
\"Eleven people who had been kept in Mandalay prison for the
\npast year and three from Bago were released. They are all NLD
\nmembers,\" the source said.<\/p>\n
Those released from Mandalay had been detained by authorities
\nwithout charge after staging a demonstration at Mandalay's Zejyo
\nMarket in September of last year, the source said.<\/p>\n
The three NLD youths released in the central Myanmar city of
\nBago had also been detained last year without charges for alleged
\nanti-government activities.<\/p>\n
It follows the release on March 28 of 10 activists considered
\nto be communist sympathizers were set free from Toungoo and
\nTharyarwaddy prisons after completing jail terms.<\/p>\n
Their release was unusual as the Myanmar junta had previously
\nsent political prisoners who had completed jail terms back to
\nprison for extended periods.<\/p>\n
On March 23, four NLD youths were released after completing
\njail terms for mounting a protest at former Premier U Nu's
\nfuneral in 1996.<\/p>\n
Pinheiro's visit and the freeing of NLD detainees is seen as a
\nsign of easing tension between Myanmar's ruling military and the
\nopposition NLD led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.<\/p>\n
Pinheiro received the green light to fly into Yangon just
\nweeks after his appointment, while his predecessor Rajsoomer
\nLallah quit last year after never visiting the military-run
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Diplomats have hailed Pinheiro's visit as another indication
\nthat a remarkable political shift is underway in Myanmar, where
\nthe generals have begun meeting behind closed doors with
\ndemocracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.<\/p>\n
In October last year, Aung San Suu Kyi and military
\nintelligence chief Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt took the first steps
\ntowards setting up the first official dialogue since 1994.<\/p>\n
The improved political climate brought about by the talks may
\nhave changed the trend of jailing opposition members
\nindefinitely, and those who have remained free are coping with
\nless harassment by the junta, the source said.<\/p>\n
\"This is a very positive sign,\" said one observer. \"They need
\nto normalize their relations with the international community.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/yangon-frees-14-jailed-democracy-activists-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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