Burma's decision to release 400 political prisoners yesterday is a positive and long due move. However, there are still hundreds more in the country’s prisons. According to Amnesty International, there are still over a thousand opposition activists languishing behind the bars — not to forget the pro-democracy icon and National League of Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Apparently, Burma’s inscrutable junta is beginning to feel the pressure of global public opinion particularly of its friends in the Asean. The Southeast Asian country gets to head the economic bloc next year. However, conscious of the international community’s concerns about Burma, the Asean has been uneasy about passing the leadership of the club to Rangoon. Apparently, by releasing political prisoners, the junta is trying to woo the Asean as well as the international community. But it’s not only a matter of political detentions. Things will not change in Burma unless the junta’s mindset changes, or better still, the junta gives way to a democratically elected government.
Burma’s neighbours and the world community must continue to pressure the junta to release all political prisoners including Suu Kyi. The NLD leader, who got people’s mandate in the elections held a decade ago, must be allowed to form the government.