GENEVA, Switzerland, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Myanmar is recognized for freeing some prisoners of conscience but must not let remaining detainees languish in prison, a U.N. envoy on human rights said.
Myanmar this week granted amnesty to 514 prisoners, including some foreigners, on humanitarian grounds. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in Myanmar published the names of 86 individuals it said were political prisoners released under the amnesty program.
The U.N. special envoy on human rights in Myanmar, Tomas Ojea Quintana, said he was encouraged by the decision.
"Bold steps are needed now to overcome the legacy of the past and to ensure that no prisoners of conscience are left behind," he said in a statement.
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, was recognized for series of reforms that began with general elections in 2010. Former prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi, now a member of Myanmar's legislative assembly, was feted during a visit to Washington this week for her pro-democracy policies.
The U.S. Treasury Department said it was lifting sanctions imposed on Myanmar's President Thein Sein and Lower House of Parliament Speaker Thura Shwe Mann for their role in political reform.
"Thein Sein and Thura Shwe Mann have taken concrete steps to promote political reforms and human rights, and to move Burma away from repression and dictatorship toward democracy and freedom, warranting today's delisting action," Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen said.
