Burma to release some top political prisoners
Rangoon - Prominent political prisoners were expected to be released Friday under the government's latest amnesty for some 651 inmates nationwide, officials said.
Several leaders of the 88 Generation Students movement, which was behind the 2007 protests in Yangon, were on the list of prisoners to be released, said a government source who asked to remain anonymous.
The list is expected to include 88 Generation leaders Nay Pyi Taw, Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Pyon Cho, Htay Kywe, Mee Mee, Nilar Thein and Ko Mya Aye, and Ah Bwe Kyaw, sources said.
"I heard that my son will be released today but I will only believe it when I see him arrive home," said Ah Bew Kyaw's mother.
State television announced the amnesty for 651 prisoners Thursday night.
Since coming to power in March last year, Burma's new elected government has released more than 20,000 jail inmates, including 347 political prisoners.
Western democracies have demanded the release of all political prisoners, jailed by the previous junta that ruled Burma between 1988 to 2010, as a prerequisite to normalizing relations with the once pariah state.//DPA
