Annan hails release of Su Su Nway; urges more reconciliation

United Nations, June 8 (UNI) UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has welcomed the release of Myanmar human rights activist Su Su Nway and urged Yangon to take more steps towards ''alleviating the political atmosphere in the country.'' Nway, a member of the pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party, was released on June 6, after being incarcerated since October 2005. Concerns had been raised about the failing health of Nway.

Mr Annan urged the Military regime to follow up the action with lifting the curbs on Suu Kyi, whose house arrest was extended by the junta, saying ''the international community cannot abandon the search for improvements in the difficult situation in Myanmar.'' The pro-democracy leader has now been under house arrest for 10 of the past 16 years.

Echoing the UN chief's remarks, Special Rapporteur on Myanmar Paulo Sergio Pinheiro demanded ''unconditional release of all remaining prisoners of conscience.'' ''This will be critical in facilitating national reconciliation and democratic transition, to which the Myanmar leadership has committed itself, again most recently during the visit to Myanmar by United Nations Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari,'' the Rapporteur said.

Nway had been the first person in Myanmar to successfully prosecute local government officials for imposing forced labour.

Subsequently, she was counter-prosecuted by local officials for alleged criminal intimidation, Mr Pinheiro noted.

Special Rapporteurs are unpaid experts serving in an independent personal capacity. They received their mandate from the now defunct UN Commission on Human Rights and will report to the newly established and enhanced Human Rights Council.

UNI XC YA VA RK0855