Bangkok .- The announcement of the government of Burma (Myanmar) to grant a general amnesty to reduce the sentences of all prisoners in the country was criticized today by Human Rights Watch believes that the action "pathetic" and calls for about 2,000 prisoners released politicians. President of Burma, Thein Sein, announced last night by state television signed a decree commuting the death sentences to life imprisonment and one year reduces the sentences of other prisoners.
According to presidential decree, published today by the state media, the amnesty was approved by humanitarian principles and in consideration of families of prisoners "in a context in which Burma" emerges as a peaceful, modern and developed democracy disciplined. " "(The government) plans to turn prisoners into citizens who contribute to the process of building the new nation," the decree.
The move came a week after the visit to Burma by UN special envoy Vijay Nambiar, who had asked the new government to release political prisoners to show their commitment to democracy. "It's a pathetic response to international demands for the immediate release of political prisoners," said director for Asia at Human Rights Watch, Elaine Pearson.
"The government's gesture might be welcomed by many prisoners but for the 2,100 political prisoners unjustly sentenced to prison terms of up to 65 years, a reduction in one year of the sentence is a joke," he added. The amnesty was approved after Burma, ruled by the military since 1962, held on November 7 the first elections in two decades gave way to a civilian government in theory composed mostly of former generals.
In the elections could not attend the National League for Democracy (NLD), which was dissolved before the vote for breaking the electoral law, and its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who then was serving a sentence of house arrest. The Nobel Peace was released a week after the elections under arrest after spending 15 of the last 21 years. 
According to presidential decree, published today by the state media, the amnesty was approved by humanitarian principles and in consideration of families of prisoners "in a context in which Burma" emerges as a peaceful, modern and developed democracy disciplined. " "(The government) plans to turn prisoners into citizens who contribute to the process of building the new nation," the decree.
The move came a week after the visit to Burma by UN special envoy Vijay Nambiar, who had asked the new government to release political prisoners to show their commitment to democracy. "It's a pathetic response to international demands for the immediate release of political prisoners," said director for Asia at Human Rights Watch, Elaine Pearson.
"The government's gesture might be welcomed by many prisoners but for the 2,100 political prisoners unjustly sentenced to prison terms of up to 65 years, a reduction in one year of the sentence is a joke," he added. The amnesty was approved after Burma, ruled by the military since 1962, held on November 7 the first elections in two decades gave way to a civilian government in theory composed mostly of former generals.
In the elections could not attend the National League for Democracy (NLD), which was dissolved before the vote for breaking the electoral law, and its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who then was serving a sentence of house arrest. The Nobel Peace was released a week after the elections under arrest after spending 15 of the last 21 years.
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