Myanmar Junta Releases Some Opposition Members

At least 70 people detained by the military government following protests in Myanmar — including 50 members of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party — have been released, a party spokesman said Friday.

But hundreds of armed riot police moved into position in Yangon, a sudden show of force after several weeks of relative quiet.

The detainees were released Thursday from the infamous Insein Prison in Yangon, said Nyan Win, the National League for Democracy party spokesman, who said at least 250 members of the party were still being held.

Several weeks of calm? Are you kidding me? It's been less than two weeks since the violent and bloody crackdown washed through the streets of Yangon and throughout all of the country, where the junta's troops arrested opposition leaders and went through the Buddhist monasteries.

They've been brutally efficient in dealing with all threats to their continued power. That's what juntas do.

International pressure may have helped secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, and while the junta isn't about to give up power to this democratically elected leader, they did meet with her yesterday.

All this comes with diplomats heading to the country to deal with ongoing issues. Hopefully, they'll also address reports that claim that the junta is relying on child soldiers to bolster its ranks because of a high desertion rate.

Those reports suggest that the junta's grasp on power may be seriously slipping, and these latest moves are all designed to stave off their deposition from power.