Myanmar arrests 2 opposition politicians for praying for release of political prisoners

October 7th, 2009 YANGON - Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi met Wednesday with a representative of the ruling junta to discuss her proposals to get sanctions dropped against the regime that has kept her under house arrest for 14 years, sources said. Relations Minister Aung Kyi met the Nobel laureate at the Seinle Kantha Guesthouse for about 25 minutes Wednesday afternoon, government sources confirmed.

September 22nd, 2009 Myanmar-American held in Yangon for 3 weeksYANGON, Myanmar — The U.S. Embassy said Tuesday that it has been allowed to visit a Myanmar-born American detained in the country for the past three weeks but refused to divulge details about his health or whereabouts.

September 18th, 2009 Some Myanmar political prisoners receive amnestyYANGON, Myanmar — At least 25 political detainees were released Friday as part of an amnesty for prisoners in Myanmar, just over 1 percent of the total number of political prisoners believed to be held by its military government. Win Naing, a spokesman for the opposition National League for Democracy, said the freed political detainees included 16 members of his party as well as activists from other pro-democracy groups.

September 17th, 2009 Myanmar announces amnesty for 7,114 prisonersYANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar's junta has granted amnesty to 7,114 convicts at prisons across the country, but it was not immediately known if they included political detainees. State television, which announced the amnesty Thursday evening, said the prisoners would be released for good behavior and on humanitarian grounds.

September 17th, 2009 YANGON - Myanmar's junta is to release 7,114 prisoners on the 21st anniversary of the military's crackdown on pro-democracy protests, media reports and officials said Thursday. The amnesty will come into effect Friday but it was not immediately clear whether political prisoners would be among those freed, according to state TV and officials.

September 8th, 2009 Myanmar pro-democracy party wants offices reopenedYANGON, Myanmar — The pro-democracy party of detained Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi called on the ruling junta Tuesday to allow it to reopen its branch offices, which would be crucial for taking part in next year's planned national elections. The junta has not held elections since 1990, when Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won in a landslide but was not allowed by the military to take power.

August 17th, 2009 Obama welcomes release of US citizen from MyanmarWASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Monday it was pleased that Sen. Jim Webb had arranged the release of an American citizen from detention in military-run Myanmar.

August 11th, 2009 Obama condemns conviction of Burma figureWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says the conviction of a Myanmar opposition leader is a violation of "the universal principle of human rights." Obama condemned the treatment of Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi (ahng sahn soo CHEE). She was convicted by a court in Myanmar, also known as Burma, for violating her house arrest by allowing an uninvited American to stay at her home.

August 6th, 2009 Key nations back release of Myanmar's Suu KyiUNITED NATIONS — Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon won support Wednesday from key nations for his appeal to Myanmar's government to free detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and release all political prisoners — and he said he expects a positive response from the country's military rulers. The U.N. chief told reporters after chairing a closed-door meeting of the Group of Friends on Myanmar that he was pleased at their support which he said confirmed the international community's desire for Myanmar to respond positively "to our concerns, expectations and encouragements." The Group of Friends includes about 15 countries — Myanmar's neighbors, interested Asian and European nations, and the five permanent U.N.

July 3rd, 2009 YANGON - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Yangon Friday for a two-day official visit during which he will press for the release of all political prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Ban and his entourage arrived at Yangon International Airport and were whisked to the Sadonah Hotel in downtown Yangon, witnesses said.

June 21st, 2009 Myanmar jails 2 opposition membersYANGON, Myanmar — A court in military-run Myanmar has sentenced two members of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party to 18 months in prison after they prayed for her release at a pagoda, the opposition party spokesman said Sunday. The news came days before Suu Kyi's trial is set to resume in a court in Yangon, the largest city.

February 22nd, 2009 YANGON - Myanmar's amnesty for more than 6,000 prisoners has so far included only 19 political prisoners, excluding opposition leaders Aung San Suu Kyi and Tin Oo, observers said Sunday. The military regime announced Friday that it would release 6,313 prisoners from the country's jails as a 'gesture' of sympathy towards their families and to allow them to participate in the upcoming general election of 2010.

February 22nd, 2009 YANGON - Myanmar authorities Saturday began to free prisoners from Yangon's notorious Insein jail, including some political prisoners, under a government amnesty for 6,313 inmates nationwide. Eyewitnesses saw scores of prisoners leaving Insein Saturday evening.

February 21st, 2009 YANGON - Myanmar'a junta announced an amnesty Friday for more than 6,000 prisoners, although it remained unclear how many political prisoners were included, Naypyitaw radio reported. 'For the humanitarian reasons, for the sake of the family members, to demonstrate the goodwill of the government and to be able to allow fair participation in the upcoming 2010 free and fair general election, Myanmar government will release 6,313 prisoners starting from Feb 21,' the announcement said.

January 13th, 2009 YANGON - A Mandalay court has sentenced a student activist to 104 years in jail for attending a meeting marking the first anniversary of the 'saffron revolution' on the Thai-Myanmar border, a prisoner support group said Wednesday. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), Bo Min Yu Ko, in his early 20s, was arrested Sep 18, 2008 after attended a meeting on the Thai-Myanmar border to commemorate the first anniversary of the monk-led protests that rocked Yangon and parts of upper Myanmar in August and September of 2007.