YANGON (AFP) - Myanmar's junta has freed the nation's number two political prisoner as part of a release of 4,000 inmates, as analysts questioned the gesture's potential impact on democratic reform in the military-ruled state.
Student democracy leader Min Ko Naing said he was set free in western Myanmar Friday night and flown back to Yangon to reunite with his family after spending 16 years in detention.
The move was part of a mass release of 3,937 prisoners who the junta admitted may have been wrongly detained, and which included several senior National League for Democracy members and other foes of Yangon's military rule, NLD spokesman U Lwin said.
No official word has been given of exactly who was released. But NLD sources said at least two dozen NLD members and other pro-democracy figures were now believed to have been freed in the move which comes less than two weeks ahead of a Southeast Asia summit where criticism of Yangon's military rule was expected.
The NLD, whose charismatic leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest, said in a statement that the junta's release of political dissidents "lends dignity to the nation", and praised those freed for their continued struggle for democracy.
Min Ko Naing, appearing frail but excited and surrounded by relatives and stunned friends, said he needed time during his newfound freedom to deliberate about how, if at all, he would engage in the pro-democracy movement.
"I will take my time to consider matters before making any decisions," he told AFP at his home.
Second only in stature among detained dissidents to Aung San Suu Kyi, Min Ko Naing -- whose real name is Paw U Tun -- became one of the most prominent figures to emerge from the pro-democracy student protests he led which were brutally crushed by Myanmar troops in 1988.
He was arrested the following year for anti-government activities and had remained behind bars ever since, rights watchdog Amnesty International said.
In a 1988 speech, the fiery student leader said: "If we want to enjoy the same rights as people in other countries, we have to be disciplined, united and brave enough to stand up to the dictators," according to Amnesty.
The military has ruled Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, since 1962 despite the National League for Democracy winning a landslide election in 1990.
Min Ko Naing's release was interpreted by NLD spokesman U Lwin as an "important" gesture by the junta as it could serve as a barometer of its willingness to engage in political reform.
He said it also boosted chances for reigniting United Nations-brokered national reconciliation talks which were secretly launched between Aung San Suu Kyi and junta General Khin Nyunt but collapsed last year.
"I think this is an expectation and we are looking forward to starting off negotiations for reconciliation," U Lwin said, although he stressed the junta had made no direct overtures about resuming talks.
Analysts and diplomats also cautioned there was little to suggest that Aung San Suu Kyi's release was imminent.
Several NLD sources on Friday told AFP that senior party member and pro-democracy journalist Win Tin was among those freed.
The award-winning writer, age 74 and in poor health, has spent the last 15 years in detention, with several international human rights groups and the UN demanding his release.
But the detainee's nephew confirmed he was not freed, as he visited Win Tin at Insein prison Saturday.
The UN said Friday it was "encouraged" by the releases but wanted to see the junta free all political prisoners.
The US State Department said Washington's concerns about the political situation in Myanmar could not begin to be assuaged until Aung San Suu Kyi, her deputy Tin Oo, and other NLD leaders were free.
The junta figure widely seen as supporting a dialogue with Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was General Khin Nyunt, who became prime minister in 2003 and announced the country's self-declared "roadmap to democracy".
But he was ousted one month ago in a purge by junta chief General Than Shwe and replaced by a hardline general.
The junta announced Thursday it was suspending the prisoners' sentences as they may have been wrongly jailed by the National Intelligence Bureau headed by Khin Nyunt, who now stands accused of corruption by the junta.
The intelligence unit was effectively abolished after his ouster.
11/20/2004 - 12:19 GMT - AFP