NEW YORK, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- The Myanmar government's recent release of a number of prisoners of conscience is an important step for advancing national reconciliation, a U.N. expert said.
The new military-backed civilian government Friday set free a number of such prisoners under a presidential pardon, one of several reforms since the government of President Thein Sein came to power after elections in November 2010.
"I welcome the release of many prisoners of conscience, individuals who have been imprisoned for exercising their fundamental human rights or whose fair trial or due process rights have been denied," U.N. rights expert Tomas Ojea Quintana said.
"This is an important and necessary development to advance national reconciliation and deepen Myanmar's transition to democracy," Ojea Quintana said in a news release.
The exact number of prisoners freed was not confirmed but the news release said they included prominent people whose cases had been taken up by Ojea Quintana.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has commended authorities in Myanmar, formerly called Burma, on the long-awaited release and other reforms made to advance democracy and national reconciliation.
Ojea Quintana said the latest development coming ahead of the by-elections slated for April as "critical."
"It is fundamental that all citizens, including those just released from prison, are allowed to play an active and constructive role in political and public life," he said.
He urged the government to release remaining prisoners of conscience immediately and without conditions.
