Suu Kyi announces plan to release all political prisoners in Burma

National League for Democracy party (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Pic: AP.

8th April 2016 

AUNG San Suu Kyi announced her government’s plan to free all political prisoners in Burma “as soon as possible.” The declaration is her first act in her newly created position as state counselor, which effectively allows her to oversee the rest of the government.

The declaration, which was posted yesterday on the Facebook page of the office of President Htin Kyaw, described the release as a “priority.” There are about 100 political prisoners left over from the military-backed government that was recently replaced by Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party.

In addition to that, over 400 more are awaiting trial, according to some news outlets which cited the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

“I am going to try… for the immediate release of political prisoners, political activists and students facing trial related to politics,” said Suu Kyi, without providing a specific timeline, reported AFP.

Suu Kyi pointed out that the prisoners could be freed either by presidential amnesty, or by getting prosecutors to drop charges against those awaiting trial.

Suu Kyi’s party won a landslide victory in last November’s election, ending a half-century of military-backed rule. She is by agreement of her party the de facto head of government, though the constitution does not allow her to be president because her two sons have British citizenship.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press