DHAKA: Several thousand people joined a rally in Myanmar’s main city on Sunday to call for the abolition of repressive laws and an end to politically related arrests.

The crowd gathered for about two hours near Yangon City Hall, chanting slogans such as ‘Give citizens full rights!’ and ‘Freedom!’

Myanmar said on December 31 that it was releasing its last remaining political prisoners under a sweeping amnesty.

But about 35 political detainees remain locked up despite the pardon, according to activist Pyone Cho of the 88 Generation group which organised the rally.

‘We do not accept any kind of political arrest,’ Pyone Cho told media, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1845 HRS, JAN 05, 2014
Edited by Robab Rosan, Current Affairs Editor