155 Chinese loggers released from Myanmar
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Raphael
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Chinese loggers among thousands freed from Myanmar jails - Yahoo News UK
Myanmar announced the release of thousands of prisoners including scores of Chinese loggers on Thursday in a mass amnesty aimed at promoting "goodwill", officials said, after a series of spats between Yangon and Beijing.
Authorities acting on the instructions of President Thein Sein ordered some 6,966 detainees -- 210 of them foreigners -- to be freed across the country after they had been "well disciplined", according to a statement on the Ministry of Information website.
The move hoped to promote "goodwill and is aimed at keeping a friendly relationship between countries", it said.
The release included all of the 155 Chinese nationals handed long jail sentences for illegal logging in northern Myanmar near their shared border earlier this month, according to a home affairs ministry official who asked to remain anonymous because he was unauthorised to speak to the press.
"More than 150 Chinese will be released in the amnesty," he said without giving further details.
A second official from the corrections department also confirmed that Chinese nationals would be released.
The decision to jail the loggers sparked outraged editorials in Chinese state media, as well as a plea by Beijing to be "reasonable".
It was not immediately clear if political prisoners were among those freed in the release, the latest in a series of amnesties under the reformist government that have seen sentences quashed for hundreds of dissidents.
- Myanmar-China ties -
Thein Sein's regime, which took power in 2011, has been rewarded for a string of reforms -- including prisoner amnesties and welcoming Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party into parliament -- with most Western sanctions removed.
But his government has faced growing claims of backtracking as scores of activists and protesters have been arrested in recent months amid signs that media freedoms are being tightened after the official lifting of censorship.
The Myanmar leader has also been accused of timing amnesties for political benefit, while local people fret that thousands of criminals are released alongside dissidents.
The Chinese loggers were arrested in January during a crackdown on illegal forestry activities in northern Kachin state, where a bloody civil war has raged since 2011 and both military and rebel forces are accused of profiting from the exploitation of the area's rich natural resources by companies from China.
A court official in Kachin earlier this month said 153 loggers were handed life sentences -- usually equivalent to 20 years -- while two males aged under 18 were jailed for 10 years.
An editorial in China's Global Times at the time slammed the "severity" of the sentences, expressing hope that intervention from Beijing could "reverse" the outcome.
Beijing was Myanmar's closest ally during the later years of military rule, providing a shield from international opprobrium and a lifeline as a trading partner for the junta.
The relationship saw many of Myanmar's raw materials sucked across its northern border into China, spurring popular anger in the former junta-ruled country which is set to hold a general election in November.
But observers say the scale of interests China accrued during that period -- including dams and mines and a gas pipeline aimed at developing its southern Yunnan province -- caused friction and prodded Myanmar towards reforms called for by the international community.
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It appears the Myanmar government knows which side their bread is buttered
Myanmar announced the release of thousands of prisoners including scores of Chinese loggers on Thursday in a mass amnesty aimed at promoting "goodwill", officials said, after a series of spats between Yangon and Beijing.
Authorities acting on the instructions of President Thein Sein ordered some 6,966 detainees -- 210 of them foreigners -- to be freed across the country after they had been "well disciplined", according to a statement on the Ministry of Information website.
The move hoped to promote "goodwill and is aimed at keeping a friendly relationship between countries", it said.
The release included all of the 155 Chinese nationals handed long jail sentences for illegal logging in northern Myanmar near their shared border earlier this month, according to a home affairs ministry official who asked to remain anonymous because he was unauthorised to speak to the press.
"More than 150 Chinese will be released in the amnesty," he said without giving further details.
A second official from the corrections department also confirmed that Chinese nationals would be released.
The decision to jail the loggers sparked outraged editorials in Chinese state media, as well as a plea by Beijing to be "reasonable".
It was not immediately clear if political prisoners were among those freed in the release, the latest in a series of amnesties under the reformist government that have seen sentences quashed for hundreds of dissidents.
- Myanmar-China ties -
Thein Sein's regime, which took power in 2011, has been rewarded for a string of reforms -- including prisoner amnesties and welcoming Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party into parliament -- with most Western sanctions removed.
But his government has faced growing claims of backtracking as scores of activists and protesters have been arrested in recent months amid signs that media freedoms are being tightened after the official lifting of censorship.
The Myanmar leader has also been accused of timing amnesties for political benefit, while local people fret that thousands of criminals are released alongside dissidents.
The Chinese loggers were arrested in January during a crackdown on illegal forestry activities in northern Kachin state, where a bloody civil war has raged since 2011 and both military and rebel forces are accused of profiting from the exploitation of the area's rich natural resources by companies from China.
A court official in Kachin earlier this month said 153 loggers were handed life sentences -- usually equivalent to 20 years -- while two males aged under 18 were jailed for 10 years.
An editorial in China's Global Times at the time slammed the "severity" of the sentences, expressing hope that intervention from Beijing could "reverse" the outcome.
Beijing was Myanmar's closest ally during the later years of military rule, providing a shield from international opprobrium and a lifeline as a trading partner for the junta.
The relationship saw many of Myanmar's raw materials sucked across its northern border into China, spurring popular anger in the former junta-ruled country which is set to hold a general election in November.
But observers say the scale of interests China accrued during that period -- including dams and mines and a gas pipeline aimed at developing its southern Yunnan province -- caused friction and prodded Myanmar towards reforms called for by the international community.
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It appears the Myanmar government knows which side their bread is buttered
+4vsgorillas-Apebane
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Burmese judge: "life sentence with no chance for parole! Im really serious! Dont fcuk around with me Ok?
"But if you behave good, we let you out next week."
"But if you behave good, we let you out next week."
TaiShang
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The success of China's diplomacy which never ceases to amaze me.
How hard must that be to take care of gigantic frameworks from AIIB to NDB.
William Hung
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Excuse me gentlemen...sorry for interrupting your,,, but I’ve read that the Chinese govt had to release 205 Burmese prisoners a few days ago (as an exchange?).
ISSUU - 29 july 15 gnlm by Ye Lay
Burmese members, can you verify this news?
ISSUU - 29 july 15 gnlm by Ye Lay
Burmese members, can you verify this news?
Last edited:
+4vsgorillas-Apebane
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Please stop posting your fantasies dude, its just inappropriate. I dont mind your preferences as long as you keep it to yourself.
William Hung
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Read the link my friend, is it true or not? Thats what I would like to know. No fighting man.
@alaungphaya, could you confirm the news about China releasing the Burmese prisoners?
+4vsgorillas-Apebane
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I dont know, does it really matter? Im always in support of improving relations with Burma.
Win win.
Doesnt justify posting your fantasies though.
Place Of Space
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I guess our govt will judge these 155 loggers in China, sentence them according to their behaviours, at least the drug smuggler can't escape from punishment.
William Hung
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You are too sensitive and overeactive like the other Chinese PDF members here.
For your sake, since I remembered you claimed you are religious, I will edit out my previous post. OK friend, peace...
+4vsgorillas-Apebane
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