Geneva, Switzerland (BBN)– The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Burma, Tomás Ojea Quintana, has welcomed the latest presidential amnesty resulting in the release of a number of prisoners of conscience.
The UN expert also renewed his call for the immediate and systematic liberation of all prisoners of conscience without conditions.
“I am encouraged by the continuing steps taken by the Government of Burma, officially known as Myanmar, to release remaining prisoners of conscience. I believe that this issue should remain at the forefront of Myanmar’s reforms until all those left in detention have been freed,” Mr. Ojea Quintana said in a statement. 
Amongst those released was U Khaymar Sara, a Buddhist monk detained since the September 2007 demonstrations, whom the Special Rapporteur had visited in Insein Prison during his previous country visit last August.
The human rights expert, however, expressed concerns that conditions may again be attached to this latest release of prisoners, such as the imposition of the remaining sentence if a crime were committed in the future. He reiterated that the release of prisoners of conscience must be without any conditions.
The Special Rapporteur renewed his call on the Government to release all remaining prisoners of conscience without delay as a fundamental part of the process of democratic transition and national reconciliation. 
This includes the release of people such as Myint Aye, the Director of the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Organization, and 36 year old Aung Naing, who has spent the past 16 years of his life in prison and was also visited by the Special Rapporteur in Insein Prison during his previous country visit.
 
BBN/SSR/AD-20Sept12-11:50 pm (BST)