United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and many world leaders have welcomed the recent release of 115 political prisoners from various prisons in Myanmar. At the same time, many leaders have voiced concerns about the more than 1,000 remaining political prisoners, human rights abuses and the lack of dialogue between top generals and democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Nevertheless, it is quite a surprise to learn that U Win Tin, secretary of the National League for Democracy, or NLD, prominent student leader Min Ko Naing, and U Win Htain, Suu Kyi's personal secretary, were among those released. If, in fact, these three influential men, who hold outstanding lifelong reputations, are no longer considered a threat or danger to the peace and stability of the country, as acknowledged by the State Peace and Development Council, or SPDC, then neither do the remaining prisoners of conscience pose a threat or danger. The regime should free all of them; the rewards of doing so await.

Suu Kyi has recently called on her counterparts, the generals of the ruling military regime, to immediately begin negotiations with her party, the NLD. She said it is time for the military, the political parties as well as the people to work together. She warned that needless delay could only harm the people. She has drastically softened her stand against the generals, choosing to remain neutral on whether foreigners should invest in Myanmar. She leaves the question of sanctions to the moral conscience of other countries.