Relatives react to the release of a Burmese prisoner (C) from Insein prison in Yangon on Jan. 3. While Australia is relaxing some sanctions on Burma, activists say no sanctions should be lifted until all political prisoners are released. (Soe Than WIN/AFP/Getty Images)

Australia’s government on Monday announced it would remove sanctions on several former Burmese ministers to acknowledge the country’s recent steps towards reform, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry’s office.

“We hope positive developments, such as the increased participation of opposition parties in the political process, the release of around 220 political prisoners, and new labor laws that will legalize trade unions, will continue,” Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said in the statement.

The government said that it will remove some of the sanctions but will still maintain an arms embargo on those individuals.

“Former Ministers and Deputy Ministers who are no longer in politics will be removed from the list, as will tourism officials,” Rudd added, saying that Australia still has the ability to add specific individuals at any time if the situation changes.

Burma’s civilian government, which was set up last year, released a number of prisoners in recent months and started talks with the opposition, including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. However, Suu Kyi and some activists have said Burma is not moving nearly fast enough, as several hundred political prisoners are still locked up.

Most activists groups focused on Burma (also known as Myanmar), have not changed their position that sanctions should not be lifted until all political prisoners are released.

“Premature lifting of any sanctions could undermine the prospects of further and larger political prisoner releases. Political prisoners are not bargaining chips. The release of all political prisoners must remain one of the core benchmarks for the European Union and international community,” wrote the European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma in October, after 200 prisoners were released.