Reuters : Amnesty urges Myanmar to

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Amnesty urges Myanmar to release prisoners 
09:39 a.m. Aug 06, 1998 Eastern 

BANGKOK, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Human rights group Amnesty International
demanded on Friday that Myanmar release political prisoners to mark the
10th anniversary of a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy activists. 

Amnesty said the military government should release ``prisoners of
conscience'' to show it was serious about improving the countrys human
rights record and build public confidence. 

``August 8 marks 10 years of oppression in Myanmar by a military government
which killed thousands of civilians in seizing power and has since
tortured, raped, imprisoned and forcibly relocated hundreds of thousands of
Burmese people,'' Amnesty said in a statement. 

``Tomorrows anniversary marks not just 10 years of suffering for Burmas
(Myanmars) people -- it marks a decade of struggle against all odds for
basic human rights and fundamental freedoms,'' it said. 

Thousands of Myanmar exiles across the world are expected to light candles
on Saturday to mark the day when Myanmar soldiers fired into a crowd of
pro-democracy demonstrators on the steps of city hall in the capital
Yangon. 

``Four eights day'' -- the eighth day of the eighth month 1988 -- marked
start of a bloody crackdown across Myanmar, then known as Burma, as the
military rounded up hostile factions from the universities, Buddhist
temples and political parties. 

The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) government says 35 police,
15 demonstrators and ``a few dozen rioters'' were killed in the
disturbances that followed the crackdown. 

Myanmar exiles put the death toll at well over 1,000. 

Amnesty said it was time for the international community to recommit itself
to supporting the people of Myanmar and their cause for democracy. 

It said the policy of constructive engagement with Myanmar, which has been
pursued by the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and some
other neighbouring countries, had not improved the situation in the
country. 

``Myanmar has continued to receive comfort from China, from its ASEAN
partners, and from companies and investors willing to keep their mouths
shut while doing business there,'' it said. 

``The time has come for other governments to make this an issue with each
other, not just with generals in Yangon. Genuine concerted action by all
parts of the international community could turn this situation around,'' it
said. 

The London-based group accused the SPDC of forcing entire village
populations from their homes at short notice for the land and massacring
rural people who return to their land. 

``The governments treatment of ethnic minorities is having disastrous
repercussions for neighbouring countries,'' it said. 

``At least 80,000 Shan and 100,000 Karen are in refugee camps along the
Thai border. Thousands of Chin refugees are now in western India and at
least 20,000 Rohingyas in Bangladesh.'' 

Amnesty highlighted 10 individuals who it said warranted special
humanitarian consideration, one of whom, Ohn Myint, was 81-years-old. 

``Some of these men and women have spent almost 10 years in prison for no
more than writing letters and handing out leaflets,'' it said.