by Francis Khoo Thwe

Announcement is posted on the Burmese president's website. Two brothers, both UN workers, and an NGO volunteer were given two to six years in jail. No reason was given for the pardon. DVB editor says Thein Sein is consolidating his power, which could lead to clash with or reform of parliament.

Yangon (AsiaNews) - Burmese President Thein Sein pardoned two UN employees and a member of a foreign NGO convicted for their involvement in clashes in Rakhine State between majority Buddhists and minority Muslim Rohingya. The three had received prison sentences because they participated in various capacities in sectarian clashes, fuelling the climate of violence. In a statement posted on his website, the Myanmar president pardoned the three but no further details were given. Their release has not been confirmed but should follow shortly.

In June, a district court in Kyaukphyu, Rakhine State, sentenced three Muslims to death from raping and killing in late May, Thida Htwe, a young Arakenese Buddhist woman. This sparked violent sectarian clashes between Muslims and Buddhists.

After the woman's death, mobs attacked Muslims unconnected to the incident, killing ten. Further violence left a total of 29 people dead, 16 Muslims and 13 Buddhists. In addition, official sources stated that 2,600 homes were torched and that hundreds of Rohingya had fled abroad.

Last week, a court in the city of Maungdaw, Rakhine State, convicted two brothers working for the United Nations and a woman working for an NGO. They were handed down sentences ranging from two to six years in prison for inciting unrest and arson.

The three were pardoned out of the "loving kindness" of the government, said the official website, Radio Free Asia reported on Wednesday.

The UN confirmed on Tuesday that two of their staff had been released, saying a third remained in detention. "We hope that the one person remaining in detention will be released," a UN spokesman said.

The release of the humanitarian workers is a good sign that President Thein Sein might stick to his pro-reform agenda. The president himself is said to have acted directly for their release.

After a recent cabinet shuffle and the removal of 2,000 names form the government's black list, the president and his administration appear bent on pursuing a process of democratisation, despite doubts about their sincerity. Some intellectuals and Burma experts believe that all the changes are but a smokescreen.

Speaking to AsiaNews about Thein Sein's recent steps, Aye Chan Naing, editor of the online dissident media organisation Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), said, "It is still too early to speculate on the recent reshuffle. But one thing is for sure, the president is consolidating his power and showed he dared to do this. And by promoting his most trusted people like U Aung Min and U Soe Thein as the minister for his office. It could be to challenge increasing conflict with the parliament or speeding up his reform process or both."

• myanmar
• democracy
• reforms
• military
• junta
• thein
• sein
• rakhine
• rohyngya