Ko Bo Kyi, a member of the government-appointed committee to investigate the cases of political prisoners and co-secretary of Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), said that 155 activists may soon be released from Myanmar’s jails including those arrested for participation in the Latpadaung protests.
Speaking at the Myanmar Peace Centre in Yangon on June 16, Ko Bo Kyi said, “We are working to release those 155 prisoners. To do so, we will work closely with the government group. We can’t say when they will be released, but I think it may happen some time soon.”
AAPP has announced recently that they consider 183 persons as prisoners of conscience, not counting three activists from the Latpadaung incident. Ko Bo Kyi acknowledged that there is a disparity in numbers of activists behind bars because of incomplete records.
Alongside Ko Bo Kyi in the committee for investigating prisoners’ status is its chairman, Union Minister Soe Thein, officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and various Prison Departments, as well as members of the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, various political prisoners associations, and the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy party.
