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The Remaining Political Prisoners Scrutiny Committee held discussions on prison law amendment on Saturday, focusing on exceptional and immediate release of political prisoners as well as scrutiny issues.
The meeting was attended by President’s Office Union Minister Soe Thein, Deputy Minister Aung Thein, Deputy Attorney-General
Tun Tun Oo, Hla Maung Shwe of the Myanmar Peace Centre, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, representatives of the Ministry of Immigration and Population, and committee members.
“We placed an emphasis on amendments to the prison law. Especially during the British period, political prisoners were classified into ‘A,’ ‘B,’ and ‘C’ classes. The amendment to the prison law is of great importance if Myanmar is serious about its democratic changes. In this regard, it is required to categorize political prisoners into ‘B’ class,” said Bo Kyi of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).
“Prison law amendments should be made in line with Myanmar’s democratic reform process. There may remain political prisoners in the future. Moreover, legal proceedings need to be fair.”
Members of parliament are putting forward suggested amendments to the prison law.
“We submitted proposals on prison law amendment during the second parliamentary session. The prison law has not come out yet, for various reasons. We will try to do it at the ninth parliamentary session,” said Lower House MP and RPPSC member Thein Nyunt.
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