ID :
21092
Thu, 09/25/2008 - 15:39
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/21092
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RI WELCOMES RELEASE OF MYANMAR POLITICAL PRISONERS
New York, Sept 25 (ANTARA) - Indonesia welcomes the release of a number of Myanmar political prisoners but still feels mystified about what the Myanmar government will do next, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said here on Wednesday.
"Myanmar's government decision to set free a number of the country's political prisoners is a positive step but it should be followed by freeing all jailed dissidents," Wirayuda said.
What the Indonesian foreign minister meant was the release of other political prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi along with her followers.
According to an AFP report, Myanmar's military junta on Tuesday released Win Tin, a 79-year-old journalist and prominent dissident, who had been behind the bars of Yangon's feared Insein prison since 1989.
He was released along with a handful of other dissidents as part of an amnesty granted by the junta to more than 9,000 prisoners.
AFP said human rights groups estimated that about 2,000 political prisoners were locked away in Myanmar, including the country's most prominent dissident, Aung San Suu Kyi of the National League for Democracy -- who has been detained for most of the last 19 years.
But Wirayuda wondered if Tuesday's release of Myanmar's longest serving political prisoner was an indication that the country's military junta would set free the other political prisoners.
"It is difficult to predict, but we hope it is not a first and final step in process," Wirayuda said.
Meanwhile at a diplomatic reception hosted by the Indonesian permanent representative in New York on Tuesday, Wirayuda met with his counterparts from Australia, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea, Iran, Palestine, Vietnam, Slovakia, Serbia, Bosnia, Nauru, Nikaragua, South Africa, Eritrea, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
In addition, Wirayuda also had a series of activities including a bilateral meeting with European Union's foreign affairs chief Javier Solana, a joint press conference with Poland and Denmark, and with UN chief Ban Ki-moon at the UN Headquarters.
Representing Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Wirayuda would deliver Indonesia's statement at the 63rd UN General Assembly session on Monday, Sept 29,2008.
"Myanmar's government decision to set free a number of the country's political prisoners is a positive step but it should be followed by freeing all jailed dissidents," Wirayuda said.
What the Indonesian foreign minister meant was the release of other political prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi along with her followers.
According to an AFP report, Myanmar's military junta on Tuesday released Win Tin, a 79-year-old journalist and prominent dissident, who had been behind the bars of Yangon's feared Insein prison since 1989.
He was released along with a handful of other dissidents as part of an amnesty granted by the junta to more than 9,000 prisoners.
AFP said human rights groups estimated that about 2,000 political prisoners were locked away in Myanmar, including the country's most prominent dissident, Aung San Suu Kyi of the National League for Democracy -- who has been detained for most of the last 19 years.
But Wirayuda wondered if Tuesday's release of Myanmar's longest serving political prisoner was an indication that the country's military junta would set free the other political prisoners.
"It is difficult to predict, but we hope it is not a first and final step in process," Wirayuda said.
Meanwhile at a diplomatic reception hosted by the Indonesian permanent representative in New York on Tuesday, Wirayuda met with his counterparts from Australia, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea, Iran, Palestine, Vietnam, Slovakia, Serbia, Bosnia, Nauru, Nikaragua, South Africa, Eritrea, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
In addition, Wirayuda also had a series of activities including a bilateral meeting with European Union's foreign affairs chief Javier Solana, a joint press conference with Poland and Denmark, and with UN chief Ban Ki-moon at the UN Headquarters.
Representing Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Wirayuda would deliver Indonesia's statement at the 63rd UN General Assembly session on Monday, Sept 29,2008.
