Min Thuta – No Mon political prisoners were among the 6,359 prisoners granted amnesty by the Burmese government on 12 October by Order No. 49/2011.
“It is sure that Nai Yekha has not been released yet,” said Bo Kyi, joint secretary of the Association of Assistance for Political Prisoners-Burma (AAPP-B).
Min Nay Win (aka Nai Yekha) is still being kept at Insein Prison in Rangoon. Min Myo Thwe, who was arrested at the same time as Nai Yekha, was transferred from Insein Prison to Thayarwaddy Prison in Pegu Division last year.
“If Min Myo Thwe was released, all villagers would know about it. Nothing significant has happened yet,” said an elder from Panga Villge, Thanbyuzayat Township.
Nai Yekha, a Central Committee member of the New Mon State Party and, Colonal Min Myo Thwe were sentenced to life sentences after being found guilty of plotting to detonate bombs by the Burmese Special Intelligence on 17 July 2003 in Rangoon.
Ashin Uk Kong Sah (aka U Zin Zaw Lat) has also not been released yet. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison for protesting against the 2010 elections and was transferred from Insein Prion to Pession Prison, Irrawaddy Division.
Similarly, 88 Generation student leaders Min Ko Naing and Min Zayar remain in remote prisons in Kengtung and Lashio, respectively.
U Thein Sein’s government has twice granted prisoner amnesties. The first was on 17 May 2011 with the release over 14,600 prisoners. 348 death sentences were commuted to life sentences.
“The power is in their [the new government’s] hands. The prisoners will be released if they give the release. During their first amnesty, only a few political prisoners were among the more than ten thousand prisoners released.” said Ko Min Zayar’s sister.
According to a new statement of AAPP-B, only around 200 political prisoners were released with the second amnest of 6,359 prisoners at the order of President U Thein Sein.
