U.S. Department of State - UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Calls for Release of Political Prisoners in Burma

U.S. Department of State - UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Calls for Release of Political Prisoners in Burma
Robert Wood
Acting Department Spokesman, Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
March 24, 2009

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued opinions today affirming that the continued detentions of Aung San Suu Kyi, Aung Myin, Ko Jimmy, Paw Oo Tun, and Mtay Win Aung are arbitrary and unjustified and that the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi is in contravention of Burma’s own law. The U.N. working group urged the Burmese government to release these individuals immediately.

We are disappointed that the regime continues to ignore the calls of the international community, including the UN Security Council, to release the more than 2,100 political prisoners immediately and unconditionally. We once again urge the Burmese authorities to release all political prisoners and initiate a genuine dialogue that can help move the country forward.