More political prisoners to be released in Myanmar
Yangon - The new Myanmar government led by Aung San Suu Kyi has released nearly 200 political prisoners, and is expected to free others after the Buddhist New Year holidays that start this week, officials said Sunday.
The Ministry of Information said 199 political activists were released from detention after police dropped charges against them on Friday, ahead of the April 9-20 holiday.
Those freed included 69 student activists arrested a year ago during a march to demand education reform.
A total of 2,178 inmates who had already served their jail terms were released from prisons across the country on Friday, the ministry saidon its website.
More political prisoners were to be released under an amnesty, and the cases against remaining political activists would be dismissed after the holiday, it said.
There were 121 inmates convicted of political crimes and 418 awaiting trial in the country, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) before the latest release.
General prisoner amnesties are fairly common in Myanmar. An amnesty in July for almost 7,000 inmates included around 20 political prisoners.
- DPA
