At least 300-500 political detainees are believed to remain behind bars. Assistance Association for Political Prisoners-Burma (AAPP) said that at least 87 political prisoners were released on Monday. “We welcome for the release of the people. But we still have doubt for they did not release them all,” said AAPP secretary.
Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party had estimated that around 330 political detainees remained jailed in Burma, officially called Myanmar, while other activists said the total may be at least 100 more.
“While another prisoner amnesty is welcome in principle, like everyone else we’re left waiting to see the list before we assess how many political prisoners are included, what it means and how significant it is,” Phil Robertson, deputy director of the Asia Division of HRW, said in a statement. “The problem is there is a lack of transparency from the Burma government about who is a political prisoner, where they are, and how many are left—and to date, our recommendation that the Burma government work with the international community to devise a clear and transparent process to access, assess and immediately release political prisoners has fallen on deaf ears,” he said. Robertson said aid donors seeking to promote reforms in Burma should press its government “to meet its human rights commitments by immediately freeing the remaining political prisoners and lifting all restrictions against them.” The group said the Home Affairs Ministry “has refused to issue passports to many former political prisoners, including democracy and human rights activists, public interest lawyers, and journalists.” Some have also been prevented from resuming their university studies, it added.
''Burma announced on Monday that it is releasing 514 prisoners under a new amnesty that reportedly includes more than 80 political detainees and some foreigners. The Information Ministry did not name the prisoners, so it was unclear how many political detainees were among them, yet more than 80 had so far been identified by fellow activists at the time of publication.''
In Washington, the US State Department reacted cautiously to news of the amnesty, saying it would monitor events. "We are watching developments of the prisoner release closely and will work carefully to verify if any political prisoners are released," said a spokesperson. "The United States continues to call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners."
2012.09.18 The Irrawaddy - New Amnesty Includes At Least 80 Political Prisoners 2012.09.18 Mizzima - Names-of-released-political-prisoners 2012.09.18 Mizzima releases-514-prisoners-in-amnesty 2012.09.18 DVB more-than-80-political-prisoners-freed-in-amnesty