Release all political prisoners in Myanmar before election, groups demand

Two advocacy groups have called on the government to release all remaining political prisoners before the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement is signed and the election is held, two important milestones in Myanmar’s slow transition from decades of military rules.
 
A finalized peace deal between the government and ethnic groups could be signed in October. The election is on November 8.
 
“There are currently 95 political prisoners incarcerated in Burma’s prisons with an additional 465 people awaiting trial for political actions. Many of those incarcerated have been actively working towards strengthening and bettering Burma for the good of all its peoples,” said the local Former Political Prisoners Society and the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in a joint statement released on Monday. “Continuing to detain these political prisoners through these historic events will only serve to further obstruct Burma’s progression to peace and democracy.”
 
Tin Maung Oo from the Former Political Prisoners Society was quoted in the Voice Weekly as saying that “those who worked for the country should not be in prison at the moment that the NCA agreement is going to be signed and the election is going to held. That’s why two of our associations collaborated to make the demand.”
 
Authorities forcibly move a student protester in Letpadan in March, 2015. Photo / AFP PHOTO