Prisoner Releases Do Not Signify Change

The Burma Campaign UK today welcomed the release of more than twenty political prisoners in Burma, but warned that the releases did not signify any significant change by the regime. More than 6,000 prisoners were released over all.

“We are very glad for the prisoners and their families,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. “However, there are still more than 2,100 prisoners left in jail, and there is no indication that the releases signify any kind of deeper reform by the regime.”

Burma’s dictators regularly release thousands of prisoners from Burma’s jails. This is partly because of overcrowding, and party because the releases are meant to bring good Karma to the generals themselves. There are often a small number of political prisoners among those releases. Prisoners who are released are often elderly and ill, and the regime knows it can get propaganda benefits through the releases.

The Burma Campaign UK has been campaigning for the United Nations to make the release of all political prisoners the top priority in its negotiations with the regime.

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