20 political prisoners freed as Myanmar takes another step on path to democracy

More than 20 political prisoners were released in Myanmar on Friday, months before it hands over power to democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi’s party. They were among 101 inmates, including common criminals, who were released from Insein Prison in Yangon’s northern outskirts. “Early this morning, the prison guards called the names of 20 political prisoners and told us to pack up and get ready to go back home,” said Soe Zaw, a 44-year-old freed after 14 months in prison. “Our families were not informed.”

We want all political prisoners to be freed. There are many more political prisoners inside prison

Freed prisoner Min Min

Among those pardoned was New Zealander Philip Blackwood, who was jailed for two years last March for insulting religion by using an image of a Buddha wearing headphones to promote a cheap drinks night at the Yangon bar where he worked. His jailing was condemned by rights groups and read as a worrying sign of surging Buddhist nationalism in Myanmar, which has seen anti-Muslim riots. A spokesman for president Thein Sein said the pardon was signed to mark an ongoing peace conference hosted in north-western Myanmar by leading Buddhist monk, Sitagu Sayadaw. Analysts believe the pardons are intended to burnish the legacy of Thein, who has helped to end 49 years of military rule in the country.

He should never have been charged, let alone convicted in the first place. It’s a black mark on the country’s name, as has been the detention of the other political prisoners now being released.

Philip Blackwood’s friend Nathan Green

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