Panel proposes acquitting all accused
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The Remaining Political Prisoners Scrutiny Committee (RPPSC) has submitted a letter to the President's Office demanding the acquittal of more than 200 people who have been accused of political offences under Section 18 and Section 505 (b) of the penal cod
The December 7 letter was confirmed by RPPSC member Ye Aung, who spoke to the media following the committee’s weekly meeting held at the Myanmar Peace Centre on Saturday.
“We have now sent a rough draft of the letter to the President’s Office. The ministers of the office will have to scan the draft, especially Minister Soe Thein. And they will rewrite it for a final draft and then it will be submitted. We will know when they tell us,” said Ye Aung.
“So far, there are more than 200 people who have been accused under Section 18 of the controversial Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law and Section 505 (b) on Harming State Tranquillity.”
Fellow RPPSC member Bo Kyi said the purpose of the letter is not only to secure the release of all political prisoners but also to abolish certain sections of the law that make it possible to jail political activists. “We are working together with members of the committee, ministers and the attorney-general. We have proposed to acquit all the accused before December 31,” he said.
Despite President Thein Sein’s promise that amnesty would be granted to all political prisoners by the end of this year, charges and arrests were still being filed.
