Rights body slams Myanmar’s no political prisoner claim

By Kyaw Ye Lynn</p> <p>YANGON, Myanmar (AA) – The government of Myanmar on Monday said there are no political prisoners in the country, a claim rejected by advocacy groups.</p> <p>In a statement, the military-controlled Home Affairs Ministry said the only people incarcerated are in prison under the country’s laws and penal code for criminal acts.</p> <p>The announcement came after human rights activists and press freedom advocates in Myanmar strongly criticized President Win Myint’s decision not to include more political prisoners in a recently announced amnesty.</p> <p>Of 9,551 prisoners released under an April 17 presidential amnesty, only two were political prisoners, according to the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners (Burma), a Thai-based rights group.</p> <p>In a monthly chronicle for March, the group said at least 45 political prisoners have been convicted since the current government led by State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi took office in March 2016.</p> <p>Another 94 await trial in prison, while 225 are on bail awaiting trial, it added.</p> <p>Bo Kyi, the group's secretary, told Anadolu Agency the presidential pardons under the current government include fewer prisoners than those under the previous governments.</p> <p>“It is disappointing that the government keeps those who have been imprisoned for exercising basic citizen’s rights,” he said.</p> <p>“The Reuters case is the best example. The journalists are just doing their job. It is their basic right, but they are now in jail,” he added, referring to two Reuters journalists imprisoned in December 2017.</p> <p>“How does the government dare say that there are no political prisoners right now?” he asked.