For more news visit ☛ http://english.ntdtv.com<br />Follow us on Twitter ☛ http://twitter.com/NTDTelevision<br />Follow us on Facebook ☛ http://facebook.com/NTDTelevision<br /><br />Burma releases 14,000 prisoners and commutes thousands more sentences. But critics say the amnesty is a token gesture aimed at improving the country's international image... as very few political prisoners were released.<br /><br />Burma's new regime began freeing about 14,000 prisoners and commuting thousands more sentences on Tuesday... in an amnesty critics dismissed as a token aimed at improving its international image.<br /><br />Activists say the vast majority of those released from prisons across the country were common criminals... very few were political prisoners.<br /><br />The large number of political detentions has been central to the imposition of economic sanctions on Burma's rulers since a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 1988.<br /><br />Their release has long been a key demand by the West.<br /><br />The amnesty came just days after UN Special Envoy Vijay Nambiar visited Burma, urging the release of all political prisoners.<br /><br />All death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment and many terms were reduced by one year.<br /><br />[Ma May Aye, Released Prisoner]:<br />"In fact, my prison term officially expires on May 20. Anyway, I am very pleased to be freed today. I will get back home a few days earlier."<br /><br />Legal expert U Aung Thein echoed the critics.<br /><br />[U Aung Thein, Legal Expert and Activist]:<br />"I can't call it a general amnesty. It will just benefit only criminal prisoners who have almost finished their terms."<br /><br />The U.S. Campaign for Burma says the failure to release political detainees shows the regime is not about to introduce democratic reforms.<br /><br />Burma insists there are no political prisoners in its jails and is trying to attract foreign investment.<br /><br />Official figures state Burma has some 60,000 prisoners held in 42 prisons and 109 labor camps.
