SIR, — Last Friday news emerged throughout the day of the release of about 600 prisoners from the Burmese prisons by the militant Junta, including most of the 400 political prisoners of conscience. Prisoners of conscience are those imprisoned for merely opposing the government, always peacefully.
The Mid-Down Group of Amnesty International has campaigned for the release of all political prisoners in Burma for many years and specifically for: Zaw Htet KoKo, Htay Kywe, Mie Mie, Zargonar (the comedian) and Khaing Kaung San.
Our MLAs, Down District Councillors, local press and hundreds of people in and around Downpatrick, Newcastle and Castlewellan supported our campaigning.
There is more to do to ensure that the move toward justice and true freedom in the country and other countries continues.
A big “thank you” to all our supporters on behalf of those released and from Mid-Down Group of Amnesty International.
Pat Ryan, secretary, summed it up well when he said, “What good news and what extraordinary things are happening in Burma. We can’t take all the credit, maybe we can’t take any of the credit, but at least we did something. And that surely is what Amnesty is all about.
Yours etc.,
PHILIP NYE,
Chairman,
Mid-Down Group.