Shan groups in exile have called the regimes' mass prisoner release a publicity stunt and demanded immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Burma, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Shan State leaders imprisoned since 2005, according to a press statement released by Shan groups yesterday.
 
Although a handful of political prisoners, including U Win Tin, a founder of the National League for Democracy (NLD), have been released, there still remain 2,100 prisoners in Burma, the statement said.
 
The statement also questioned why the ailing 73-year-old Shan leader Sao Hso Ten, sentenced to 106 years in Hkamti Prison, has not also been released, while 79-year-old U Win Tin appeared to have been released because of his age.
 
The statement said the regime was claiming that the prisoners were released so that they could "contribute to the building of a new nation" and "participate in the 2010 election," when elected Members of Parliament from the last 1990 elections continue to languish in prison on trumped-up charges. For example, 65-year-old Hkun Htun Oo, leader of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, the party which won the second highest number of seats in 1990, is serving a 93-year prison sentence in Putao, northernmost Kachin State. He is suffering from prostate problems, diabetes and high blood pressure, but has been denied proper medical treatment.
 
"He is having trouble hearing in his left ear," said a source close to the family.
 
The statement also talked about activists who took part in the Saffron Revolution and in Cyclone Nargis relief efforts who continue to be unjustly arrested and sentenced to long terms in prison.
 
"It is thus very clear that the mass prisoner release is a mere sham, aimed to present a benevolent face to the international community and gain support for their roadmap to 'disciplined' democracy in Burma."
 
The statement urged the international community to maintain pressure on the regime, and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Burma.
 
The Shan groups in exile which jointly released the press statement are Shan Health Committee, Shan Human Rights Foundation, Shan Overseas Community, Australia, Shan Refugees Organzation, Malaysia, Shan Relief and Development Committee, Shan Sapawa Environment Organization, Shan State Nationality for Democracy, Japan, Shan State Organization, Shan Women's Action, Network, Shan Youth Network Group and Shan Youth Power.